a instrument holder is disclosed that is adapted to be attached to a side edge of a surgical table in an operating room and that includes a magnet by which metallic instruments are attachable to the holder for staging during performance of a medical procedure in the operating room . the magnet further may assist in retaining and / or stabilizing the holder in its attachment to the side edge of the table . the holder may include grooves for receiving certain types and / or sizes of instruments . during performance of a medical procedure the holder may be moved to a different side edge of the table . the holder preferably is contained within a plastic , transparent , pliable sleeve for maintaining sterility of the holder , whereby the holder is reusable in subsequent procedures .