Question

You are organizing the operating room suite when you notice a reprocessed single-use item ready to be opened on your back table. Please explain your stand point on this?

Please answer the following question. You must have a minimum of 100 words in your original post.

Answer 1

Stand point on using a reprocessed Single use item:

Single use items are the items that are designed to use only one time . According to FDA ( Food and Drug administration , US) , single use items are meant to use on only one patient during a single procedure. This items are also known as disposable items. Disposable items or objects are objects or items that are designed to be disposed of rather than refilled , repaired or reprocessed.

Reprocessing of single use devices are more common now a days in the name of reducing the cost and the difficulty in waste disposal. Many studies proven the adverse effect of reuse of single use medical devices and adverse effects are associated with the physical defect, improper decontamination and performance issue.  

( My stand point): The nurse has to enquire about the reprocessed Single use device, its condition and the process of decontamination and assess the device for any defect and check that the device is coming under the guidline policy of the hospital regarding the reuse of Single use device. According to Joint Commission International ( JCI), Each Hospital has to formulate a guidelines on reuse of single use devices , it should include the list of articles that can be reprocessed and reused, the agency, who decontaminte the single use device, and the criteria for the health professionals to assess the device, wheather its in optimal condition or not. As a nurse I will check the device according to the Hospital policy and guidelines. If it is fulfilling the criteria for a reprocessed Single use device, then will continue the procedures with it, otherwise I will ask for a replacement of the item to the charge nurse .