Minnesota Makes Eighteen

On May 17, 2024, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed SF 3852, an omnibus Labor and Industry policy bill, into law. In addition to enhancing worker protections, strengthening the minimum wage, and increasing pay transparency, this bill included language to require facilities to adopt and implement policies to evacuate surgical smoke from Minnesota operating rooms. This requirement goes into effect January 1, 2025.

As John Zender pointed out in his February 29 testimony to the Minnesota House Labor and Industry Committee, surgical smoke evacuation is about protecting the future of the perioperative profession. “My son, Connor, is currently in nursing school at Bemidji State University and has express his intent to enter the profession of circulating nursing,” said Zender. “I am proud he wants to join the profession that I love, but I want Connor and his fellow nursing students to work in operating rooms that are free from harmful surgical smoke.”

Are you a Minnesota OR nurse wondering how you can get your facility into compliance by January 1, 2025? Check out these AORN resources on next steps and implementation and compliance.