In today’s fast-paced healthcare environment, staying current with the latest advancements and best practices is essential for perioperative nurses. While webinars and online resources have their advantages, in-person education offers a unique set of benefits that foster professional growth and collaboration.

As AORN prepares for the upcoming Guidelines Workshops, we caught up with senior director of evidence-based perioperative practice Lisa Spruce, DNP, RN, CNS-CP, CNOR, ACNS, ACNP, FAAN. She said in a post-pandemic world, engaging in face-to-face education is essential.

And it’s good for the soul.

“A lot of people I talk to didn’t love being totally virtual and unable to connect with and learn from each other,” she said. “Not being able to go to AORN Expo and network and see each other was difficult. Having these in-person meetings for us has always been the highlight of our year.”

Spruce touts the many benefits of on-site learning. Here are her top five:

1. Networking with Other Nurses

Nurses love to share stories about how they handle problems and their innovative ideas for solving them. Through meaningful interactions, nurses can learn from one another and discover fresh approaches to addressing common issues.

“Sometimes, we get so focused on where we work, we forget to ask what everyone else is doing,” Spruce said. “When you’re with someone all day, it gives you time to think about your questions and have one-on-one time with others. At the Guidelines Workshops, you can ask those questions and talk through your problems.”

2. Learning from and Engaging with Guideline Authors

Interacting with Guidelines authors is mutually beneficial. For starters, nurses can discuss specific concerns, gain insights into the authors' perspectives, and learn about emerging areas of practice. But that’s not all. “We will oftentimes help them with issues, but we also need to hear about what they’re seeing or having problems with. Sometimes we don’t know there’s a problem until they tell us,” Spruce said.

3. Hands-on Sessions with Products/Equipment

“The Guidelines Workshops are like a mini AORN Expo where you see vendors’ equipment and products. The Guidelines provide recommendations for practice and vendors can provide solutions to implementing those recommendations. Nurses can see how the equipment works, practice with it, and ask questions,” Spruce said.

4. Participating in Group Discussions and Case Scenarios

Active learning through group discussions and case scenarios are an integral part of the workshops. Rather than passive lectures, the workshops emphasize interactive and collaborative learning.

“We’re planning on group discussions and solving problems together. We’re going to make it interactive and fun,” Spruce said.

5. Discovering Practical Tools

Perioperative nurses have a comprehensive set of clinical tools from AORN at their disposal. From pocket cards (on positioning) and toolkits to diagrams (on wound classification) and algorithms, nurses have a chance to see them in action.

“Some aspects of practice such as positioning can be tough for some nurses, so these are invaluable resources,” Spruce added.

Registration is now open for the six, one-day interactive Guidelines Workshops taking place this fall. Leader members attend free as part of their benefits. Visit our Guidelines Workshops page to see lineups, topics, and for more information.