SOME INSTRUMENTS USED IN NURSING

1. Crocodile forceps: An ENT instrument used for picking out foreign bodies in the Nose, ear or throat
(Otorhinolaryngology)

2. Cheatle forceps: Used to pick sterile instruments from either sterilizers, sterile drums e.t.c they are also
used to set up sterile field in preparation for surgeries in the theatre.

3 Scalpel blade AKA Surgical blade: A dermatological/ surgical instrument used for making incisions. They are
used to dissect, incise or excise tissues.

4. Scalpel holder : Provides attachment for supporting the surgical blade when in use.

5. Ovum Forceps: A gynaecological instrument used for grasping, manipulating and removing tissues from
inside the uterus, ovum and placenta during surgeries like C/S, hysterectomy, uterine repair.
6. Dressing forceps – it is used during wound dressing to hold dressings, cotton balls and gauze

7. Allis forceps: A surgical instrument used to hold thick tissues during surgical procedures

8 Towel Clamp (Backhaus towel clamp): They are used to hold towels, drapes during surgical procedure.

9. Needle holder (Needle driver): Is used to secure needles during suturing (wound Closure).

10. Scissors - Used for cutting tissues or sterile materials such as sutures, gauze e.t.c. Some types of scissors
include:
 Cord Scissors- For cutting Umbilical cord during delivery
  Mayo Scissors- For cutting sutures

 Episiotomy Scissors - for giving episiotomy(cut) during delivery

 Metz Scissors- For dissecting tissues

11. Artery forceps: For Clamping blood vessels.

 Mosquito artery forceps (haemostat/ haemostatic forceps) - Used to clamp small bleeding vessels
 Straight Artery Forceps - Used to clamp large bleeding vessels.
 Kocher artery forceps- Used to rupture membrane, hold rectus sheath.
 Non-ratcheted (curved) artery forceps - Used to hold gauze pieces during wound dressing
12. Sponge holding forceps: They are used to hold sponge and swabs during surgical procedures and vulva
toileting.

13. Dissecting (thumb) forceps: There are 2 types:

Toothed dissecting forceps- Used to hold tissues during suturing and also to remove dead skin and dirt
during wound dressing.

Non toothed dissecting forceps-Used for Picking gauze during wound dressing, oral hygiene for
unconscious patients etc
Other Steel wares include;
1. Turning fork: Used to test for auditory senses

2. Mouth gag: Used to separate the upper teeth from the lower teeth and for keeping the oral cavity open
during oral examination, surgeries and oral care

3 Auvard retractor- Used to retract tough vaginal muscles for access to the vaginal wall, cervix, uterus and
uterine contents during surgical procedures.

4 Cervical dilator- Used to dilate the cervix during gynaecological procedures.

5 Cusco's Vagina Speculum: Used to widen the vagina for proper visualization vaginal walls and cervix.

6. sim’s vaginal Speculum/retractor: Used to retract tissues and muscles for better visualization during
gynaecological or surgical procedures.
7. Pinard fetoscope: Used to listen to the fetal heart rate of a fetus.

8. Patella hammer: A percussion instrument used for testing neurological reflexes in patients with paralysis

Others………
1. Spatula / Tongue depressor - They are used to depress the tongue during oral procedures. They are also
used to test for gag reflex in unconscious patients. They are either wooden or metal.

2. Oropharyngeal airway: They are used to prevent the tongue from falling backward and obstructing the
breathing process in Unconscious and patients under general anesthesia.

3. Spigot: These are plastic stoppers used to occlude(close) tubes such as Catheters to prevent leakage of
fluid from a Cavity

4. IV cannulas: They are thin sterile insertion tubes used to create assess into the vein or artery for serving
intravenous medications and fluids. They come in Various sizes and colors. Sizes are 16G, 189, 20G, 22G
and 24G. Colors are Yellow, blue, pink, green and Ash.

5. Giving set: This is a tube that is connected to cannula for administration of Intra venous Fluid.

6. Shekar's Strip - Used to measure mid-arm circumference of children.

7. Ambu bag: It is a resuscitation device used to administer oxygen to patients with respiratory
difficulty.

8. Urinary catheter- It is a tube used to remove urine from the urinary bladder.

9. Thermometer
 Bath thermometer used to check the temperature of water
 Digital thermometer used to check the body temperature of an individual.
 Mercurial thermometer. AKA mercury in glass thermometer. used to check the body temperature of
an individual.

13. Oximeter used to assess the pulse and oxygen saturation level of patients
PARTS OF A FORCEPS
 Jaws (it has a rough part known as the groove).
 Fulcrum
 Shank
 Ratchet
 Ring handle.