Periop Today Newsletter

Unintended retained surgical items (RSIs) pose significant risks, often leading to patient harm and emotional distress for operating room teams. Despite ongoing efforts, RSIs remain a top concern in surgery. Read about their effective approaches to enhance surgical safety and minimize RSIs.

Are you reluctant to lead? The literature is showing a shift toward changes to prepare happier, healthier nurse leaders. This change might open your mind to a high-demand leadership career path.

Your knowledge of forensic specimen handling is critical to ensure that all potential sources of evidence are protected during patient care and surgical procedures. Master forensic specimen handling with this overview of what periop nurses need to know.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare, serious condition that requires prompt response. Simulation exercises, like those at Orlando Health, help teams practice their response and communication. Explore training methods, such as drills, technology, and virtual reality, to prepare healthcare teams for MH emergencies.

UltraSAFE: Zero Formalin Exposure: The acceptable amount of formalin exposure for nurses and patients should be ZERO. Sponsored by Milestone Medical

Help Reduce Retained Surgical Sponges: Avoiding retained surgical sponges is critical. Stryker's SurgiCount+ is designed to verify the removal of each barcoded sponge so you can count with confidence. Sponsored by Stryker Surgical Technologies

Are you preparing the sterile field too early? You may be inviting invisible contamination to your sterile field. Take a closer look at timing and other common sterile technique slip-ups and explore these new solutions that publish in April.

If you or someone on your periop team are anxious about administering anesthesia AORN is here to help. Learn about patient selection, monitoring, and best practices to ensure patient safety and comfort.

Starting in 2025, all Medicare-certified ASCs must participate in the OAS CAHPS survey or face losing their Annual Payment Update. Though it may seem like a burden, this survey offers valuable benefits, including insightful patient feedback, opportunities for quality improvement, enhanced communication, and benchmarking against similar centers. Embracing OAS CAHPS can lead to better patient care and satisfaction.

The 2024 update to AORN's Manual High-Level Disinfection Guideline includes enhanced handover communication, cleaning verification testing, and drying techniques to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers. Stay current with this webinar.

Whether you're new to the OR or an experienced periop RN, it's good practice to stay current on instruments needed for specific procedures. Review instruments used in coronary artery bypass grafting, valve and aorta surgeries, and other surgeries where access to the heart is needed.

Double-gloving is made easy with the new Biogel® PI Micro Indicator® System. Offers safety, comfort, efficiency and sustainability — all in one convenient package. With two packages in one, you save space and reduce your plastic waste by 50%. Sponsored by Mölnlycke

During the 2024 AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo, Barbara Nalley, MSN, RN, NP-C, ANP-BC, CNOR, RNFA helped equip OR nurses with the awareness they need to safely care for cannabis users.

Surgical positioning can be an undervalued task for all staff. They can and do perform this task several times throughout the day and but can lapse into autopilot mode. Review this photo essay to stay fresh on this critical protocol.

Watch Hank Balch, co-founder of Healthcare HQ, as he shares what he presented at this year's AORN Leadership Summit as part of the 2024 AORN Global Surgical Conference and Expo. Balch explores the transformative power of AI in perioperative settings.

Sleep: Your #1 Health Hack: Wellness expert Dr. Jo® shares seven ways to get your best night’s rest to sustain health and wellbeing while also reducing weight gain, diabetes risk and brain fog.

Hundreds of members gathered Monday for the AORN Congress 2nd Forum open discussion, where members are invited to discuss any topic at the microphones.

AORN President Elizabeth Pincus MSN, MBA, RN, ACNS-BC, CNS-CP, CNOR, wrapped up her year-long term of office at the House of Delegates Tuesday, praising the Board of Directors for “positioning our association for continued growth and success.”

President Nakeisha Tolliver laid out her goals focusing on several key initiatives that underscore our dedication to nursing excellence through education, inclusivity, and professional development.

Hundreds of members gathered Monday for the AORN Congress 2nd Forum open discussion, where members are invited to discuss any topic at the microphones.