If a perioperative nurse notices a discrepancy in the surgical count, what should they do?

When a perioperative nurse notices a discrepancy in the surgical count, promptly notifying the surgical team and following the established protocol to locate the missing item is essential. This action is crucial because maintaining patient safety and preventing retained surgical items is a primary responsibility in the surgical environment.

Discrepancies in surgical counts can indicate that an item has been left inside the patient or lost within the sterile field, both of which can lead to significant complications and requires immediate resolution. The nurse’s role in this situation entails ensuring clear communication and collaboration with the surgical team to perform a thorough search for the missing item, assessing potential risks, and implementing necessary measures to prevent harm to the patient.

The other responses do not prioritize patient safety. Ignoring the discrepancy fails to address a potentially serious issue, concluding that the count was done incorrectly does not investigate the situation, and simply documenting it does not provide immediate action or facilitate resolution. Therefore, the only appropriate response is to alert the surgical team and adhere to protocol to locate the missing item for the safety of the patient.