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Discussion

Curve up or down?

This I know is a simple question for an OR nurse. I have been a L and D nurse for 25 years and was taught WAY back when to set up a sterile table with the curved instruments with the curve down ( rationale wouldn't the doc pick them up to use them that way?) I have a new job though and the tech just corrected me and told me I should always have the point up? Is this really a convention? Who is right? I used to circulate but our techs did the set up so I wouldn't absolutely swear that I am right on this one. Nor, in a new job where the tech is merely setting up a table for a delivery am I going to correct her but I might do it my way if my way is actually the OR convention. Thanks.... :)

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    We don't do curve up or down. We do a towel roll so that the instruments are on their sides, similar to the picture below. When passing to the surgeon, curve up or down is by surgeon preference.

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    Thanks! The different thing in OB is that the doctor is taking them off the table herself. It's hard for me to imagine them using them curve up....?

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    We set ours up on a towel down but on the mayo they are curve up. You are less likely to put a whole in a back table cover/mayo if they are curve up. If they are curve down, the curved point can drag across the set up and possibly puncture something.

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    We set ours up on a towel down but on the mayo they are curve up. You are less likely to put a whole in a back table cover/mayo if they are curve up. If they are curve down, the curved point can drag across the set up and possibly puncture something.

    Thanks for the answer and a good rationale too! I noticed at a C/S today they had them on the side on a towel like the photo. At my new place we don't circulate felt very odd though when I started L and D we didn't circulate either.

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    I also towel roll on the back table, but on the mayo I have all my instruments with the curves up. I have had nurses say it is easier to pick up if the curve is down and vise versa. It's a personal choice really. Aubgurl makes a good point about the puncturing possibility, as well I find it easier to see the instrument tips if the are up instead of down.

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    I was always taught to face instruments with the curve up for the same reasoning as described above. The sharp edges should never be facing down as they can very easily put holes in the drapes (even with a towel underneath them). It's really inconvenient (and unsafe for the patient) if you have to tear down your setup and re-drape/re-setup new instruments because a rake dragged a hole in your drapes.

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