Operating Room Pre-Surgery Safety Checklist

14 items · Health · Medium difficulty · 20 min

Essential OR pre-surgery safety checklist for surgical teams to prevent errors.

• Verify patient identity

  Confirm full name and date of birth against wristband and chart.

• Confirm informed consent

  Ensure consent matches the planned procedure and is signed.

• Review allergies and current medications

  Ask the patient and check the chart for allergies and blood thinners.

• Confirm and mark the surgical site

  Mark the exact procedure site with the patient involved when possible.

• Perform anesthesia machine and medication checks

  Verify monitors, oxygen, suction, lines, and that meds are labeled.

• Confirm availability of required equipment and implants

  Check that special devices and implants are sterile and on hand.

• Complete baseline instrument and sponge count

  Record initial counts of instruments, sponges, and sharps before incision.

• Ensure sterility of instruments and surgical field

  Confirm wraps, seals, and drapes are intact; replace if compromised.

• Introduce team members and state roles (Time Out)

  Each team member says name and role so responsibilities are clear.

• Perform Time Out to confirm patient, procedure, and site

  Pause with the full team present to verbally confirm key details and critical steps.

• Verify prophylactic antibiotics timing

  Confirm antibiotics were given within the recommended window if required.

• Label and prepare any specimens

  Label specimens with patient name, ID, and source before sending to the lab.

• Reconcile instrument and sponge counts before closure

  Repeat counts and resolve mismatches before wound closure.

• Document equipment issues and confirm post-op plan (Sign Out)

  Note any equipment problems, review recovery instructions, and hand off to post-op team.

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