54 PROCESS MAY / JUNE 2026 www.myhspa.org INSTRUMENT WHISPERER 1. If a needle holder cracks at the neck, what should be done? a. Realign it and return it to service b. Sharpen it and monitor it closely c. Send it out for repair d. Remove it from service and discard 2. What is the correct term for the hinged area of a hemostat? a. Ratchet joint b. Box lock c. Pivot hinge d. Lock box 3. When measuring a hemostat, should the finger rings be included? a. No. Measure the tip to the box lock only b. No. Measure the working end only c. Yes. Measure only to the ratchet d. Yes. Include the entire length, including rings 4. What is the primary purpose of ebonization on certain OB/GYN instruments? a. It improves corrosion resistance b. It reduces instrument weight c. It absorbs laser energy and prevents reflection d. It makes instruments non-conductive 5. If insulation on an electrosurgical instrument is chipped or bubbled, what is the appropriate action? a. Continue using it with caution b. Buff the area smooth c. Send it out for repair d. Sterilize it at a higher temperature 6. What is a key difference between a Graves and Pederson speculum? a. Pederson blades are wider b. Graves blades are wider c. Graves is insulated, Pederson is not d. Pederson is self-retaining 7. Which is a crucial step when inspecting Frazier, Baron and House suction tubes? a. Check insulation integrity b. Inspect for sharp edges and dents c. Measure overall length d. Test ratchet tension 8. When evaluating a repair vendor, what is recommended regarding the number of onsite technicians? a. One technician is ideal b. Multiple technicians provide better value c. Technicians are unnecessary when a day rate is used d. Offsite repair is always preferred BY RICK SCHULTZ Surgical Instrument Problems Are Only Fixed with Instrument Knowledge T he more you know about surgical instruments, the better you will be at keeping them in excellent working condition. The following multiple-choice questions are designed to reinforce key concepts in instrument inspection, maintenance, and repair, thereby increasing patient safety. Scan the QR code at the end of this article to test your knowledge and be entered for a chance to win a complimentary copy of “The World of Surgical Instruments” or a set of Instrument Coaching Cards.™
MAY / JUNE 2026 PROCESS 55www.myhspa.org INSTRUMENT WHISPERER 9. Red test material should be used for scissors that are: a. 4½ inches or shorter b. Longer than 4½ inches c. Exactly 4 inches d. Serrated only 10. Gold rings on needle holders indicate: a. Stainless steel jaws b. Tungsten carbide replaceable jaws c. Disposable construction d. Economy grade 11. When measuring scissors, hemostats or needle holders: a. The rings should be excluded b. Only the working end should be measured c. The rings should be included in the measurement d. The length can be estimated visually 12. Estimating the length of a curved Metzenbaum scissor is: a. Acceptable, if the technician is experienced b. Acceptable in the event of an emergency c. Not acceptable d. Recommended 13. Needle holder jaws should be inspected: a. Monthly b. Weekly c. Daily d. Annually 14. Hemostats most commonly crack at the: a. Distal tip b. Ratchet c. Box lock d. Rings 15. How do tissue forceps differ from dressing forceps? a. Tissue forceps are longer b. Tissue forceps have teeth c. Tissue forceps are insulated d. Tissue forceps are disposable 16. When testing a 4½" surgical scissor, which test material should be used? a. Blue test material b. Red test material c. Yellow test material d. White gauze 17. Pakistan-made instruments should: a. Always be repaired b. Never be repaired or charged for repair c. Be sharpened weekly d. Only be refurbished chemically 18. The small port near the handle of some laparoscopic instruments is used to: a. Apply lubrication b. Insert batteries c. Flush internal channels during cleaning d. Adjust tension 19. Having multiple repair technicians instead of one typically results in: a. Slower turnaround b. Fewer value-added services c. Greater efficiency and faster repairs d. Increased liability 20. Tissue forceps are identified by the presence of: a. Serrations only b. Teeth c. Smooth jaws d. Blue handles 21. Dressing forceps are primarily designed to: a. Grasp suture needles b. Clamp vessels c. Hold gauze and dressings d. Cut sutures 22. A 1x2 Adson forcep is commonly referred to as: a. Bishop-Harmon b. DeBakey c. Rat tooth d. Cooley 23. Gold handles on a forcep indicate: a. Decorative plating b. Titanium construction c. Tungsten carbide jaws d. Disposable design 24. Cracks found anywhere on a forcep should result in: a. Welding repair b. Chemical refurbishing c. Immediate removal and replacement d. Sharpening only 25. The primary advantage of a take- apart Kerrison rongeur is: a. Lower cost b. Lighter weight c. Easier and more effective cleaning d. No sharpening is required 26. The sharpness of a Kerrison rongeur is tested using: a. Gauze b. Suture c. One thickness of an index card d. Rubber tubing 27. The footplate of a Kerrison rongeur refers to: a. The handle b. The ratchet c. The top track d. The distal tip
56 PROCESS MAY / JUNE 2026 www.myhspa.org INSTRUMENT WHISPERER 28. Repeated sharpening of an osteotome will eventually cause it to: a. Lengthen b. Become thinner and sharper c. Become shorter and thicker d. Turn blue 29. How does a Kelly hemostat differ from a Crile hemostat? a. Kelly is fully serrated b. Crile is half-serrated c. A Kelly has a half-serrated jaw d. A Crile has no serrations 30. Hemostats most commonly crack due to: a. Proper use b. Over-clamping or sterilizing with the ratchet closed c. Ultrasonic cleaning d. Cold storage 31. Gold-handled needle holders indicate: a. Stainless steel jaws b. Titanium construction c. Replaceable tungsten carbide jaws d. Single-use design 32. Needle holder jaw wear typically occurs: a. In the middle of the jaw b. At the ratchet c. At the tip d. At the rings 33. What is the length of a Hartman mosquito? a. 5" b. 5½" c. 2½" d. 3½" 34. 34. What is the length of a Kelly hemostat? a. 3½" b. 5½" c. 6¼" d. 7" 35. Which retractor has larger blades? a. Kelly b. Richardson c. Mayo d. They are all the same size 36. What does S/S stand for when describing an Operating scissor? a. Stainless steel b. Super Sharp c. Sharp/Sharp d. Stays Straight 37. When testing a ratchet, the instrument should be taped softly on: a. Test material b. Your hand c. A flat table d. Your thumb 38. What is the best way to test a Weitlaner Retractor? a. Test the rings b. Push the lever down; it should spring back c. Ensure the arms are tight d. The instrument should lie flat Scan the QR code: RICK SCHULTZ, the Instrument Whisperer™, is an author, inventor, lecturer, and the retired Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Surgical Instruments Corp. He served as contributing editor of HSPA’s Central Service Technical Manual (fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth editions). Schultz authored the textbooks Inspecting Surgical Instruments: An Illustrated Guide and The World of Surgical Instruments: The Definitive Inspection Textbook, which was released in June 2018. In October 2021, Schultz published the veterinary medicine textbook The World of Surgical Instruments for Animal Health. Schultz was named HSPA’s Educator of the Year in 2002 and the American Hospital Association Educator of the Year in 2006. In 2007, he was named by Healthcare Purchasing News as one of the 30 Most Influential People in Healthcare Sterile Processing. Schultz currently provides educational lectures to Sterile Processing professionals at HSPA’s annual conferences and conducts Operating Room personnel lectures across the country. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of HSPA. The content provided in this column is also not a reflection or representation of any other company or organization with which the author may be affiliated.