What action should the surgical technologist take when they miss instruments during an automatic washer cycle?

When a surgical technologist misses instruments during an automatic washer cycle, the appropriate action is to wait until the cycle stops and then run a new cycle. This ensures that the instruments are washed and sterilized properly according to the manufacturer's specifications and the institution's protocols.

Running a new cycle is important because adding instruments mid-cycle could disrupt the cleaning process, potentially leading to inadequate cleaning or damage to both the instruments and the machine. Moreover, using the washer as designed allows for consistent chemical exposure and thorough cleaning, which is critical to maintaining the integrity of surgical instruments and ensuring patient safety.

Handling instruments in a way that aligns with standard operating procedures minimizes the risk of contaminants remaining on the instruments, guaranteeing they are properly prepared for use in a surgical setting.