84 PROCESS SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2026 www.myhspa.org INSTRUMENT WHISPERER T hank you to all who completed the Instrument Whisperer™ Instrument Quiz in the March/ April issue of PROCESS. There were a total of 114 responses. Congratulations to the following individuals who submitted correct answers to all 38 questions: • Jaimy Anes from Alabama • Lissette M. from New York • Nicole L. Perez from Illinois • Chelsea Uzoho from New Jersey After analyzing all the responses, the seven most-missed questions are explained in this lesson for enhanced learning. Question 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 Only 63% of respondents answered D correctly. Needle holders crack in the neck when a large needle is used in a small needle holder. Also, the needle holder can crack if is used like a pair of pliers to pull pins and twist wire. Both of these types of cracks are not repairable.
Question 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 The correct answer is C (yellow scissor test material). Only 53% of those who responded answered correctly. BY RICK SCHULTZ Revisiting the 7 Most-Missed Questions from March/April’s Instrument Quiz
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2026 PROCESS 85www.myhspa.org INSTRUMENT WHISPERER The next two questions about hemostats were answered correctly by only about 60% of respondents: Question 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 Question 34: What is the length of a Kelly hemostat? a. 3½" b. 5½" c. 6¼" d. 7" A Kelly hemostat and a Crile hemostat are different instruments and not interchangeable. A Kelly is 5½" long with a half-serrated jaw. A Crile is also 5½" long; however, the jaw is fully serrated. Question 35: Which retractor has larger blades? a. Kelly b. Richardson c. Mayo d. They are all the same size While 65% of respondents answered B (Richardson) incorrectly, the correct answer is A (Kelly). The difference between these retractors is the length, depth and size of the blades. Kelly retractors have larger blades; for example, 3" wide x 3½" deep compared to the largest Richardson retractor blade of 1⅝" wide x 2½" deep. A Kelly retractor is always larger than a Richardson retractor.
86 PROCESS SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2026 www.myhspa.org INSTRUMENT WHISPERER Question 36: What does S/S stand for when describing an Operating scissor? a. Stainless steel b. Super Sharp c. Sharp/Sharp d. Stays Straight S/S stands for Sharp/Sharp; only 54% of respondents answered this question correctly. For reference, see the photo below. Question 37: When testing a ratchet of a hemostat, the instrument should be tapped gently on: a. Test material b. Your hand c. A flat table d. Your thumb Only 52% of test-takers answered C (a flat table) correctly. Lock the hemostat on the first ratchet and gently tap the rings on a flat work surface (not the palm of your hand). If, after three or four taps, the ratchet holds, flip the instrument over and repeat the test. If the ratchet springs open during either test, the instrument should be sent out for repair. SP Week Giveaway! In honor of Sterile Processing Week, the Instrument Whisperer™ is gifting one lucky winner a set of Instrument Coaching Cards™ and “The World of Surgical Instruments: The Definitive Inspection Textbook,” authored by Rick Schultz. To enter, simply follow these instructions: 1. Visit https://myhspa.org/resources/sterile- processing-week/ and click the “SP Week 2026 Giveaway” button. 2. Follow the simple instructions on the form (providing your full name, mailing address and phone number). All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. CT on Oct. 9, 2026. HSPA will randomly select the winner, and the recipient will be notified during Sterile Processing Week. Good luck! 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.