Periop Cross-Training: 6 Strategies to Build a More Adaptable Team

A siloed perioperative team can lead to inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and staffing challenges—especially when vacancies stretch teams thin. But what if your staff could seamlessly step into different roles when needed?

Cross-training can break down barriers, strengthen teamwork, and create a more adaptable, resilient periop team. When staff understand not only their own roles but also the challenges their colleagues face, they can collaborate more effectively across the entire continuum of care.

That’s exactly what Courtney Scott, MS, EdDc, RN, CNOR, CLC, SAFE set out to achieve. As a perioperative educator overseeing the operating room, pre-anesthesia, PACU, and ambulatory care unit at F.F. Thompson Hospital in Canandaigua, New York, she launched a department-wide cross-training initiative in 2023—one that continues to evolve and make an impact.

While periop cross-training isn't novel, it's also not the norm. And Scott wants to change that.

First, she says it’s important to understand and share the many benefits of cross-training. Here are a few from her practice setting:

• Staffing Support—When multiple staff members are out, cross-trained nurses can step in seamlessly. Circulating nurses can also move between preoperative and postoperative areas as needed, ensuring continuity of care.
• Enhanced Communication—A nurse trained in both the OR and in the preanesthesia area understands the workflow on both sides, leading to clearer communication about patient prep and surgical delays.
• Problem-Solving and Adaptability for Patient Safety—If a patient in PACU develops respiratory issues, a cross-trained operating room nurse can assist with reintubation, ensuring timely and effective intervention. 
• Job Satisfaction and Retention— Learning multiple roles keeps work engaging. OR nurses who train in PACU and preop gain new patient care experiences, creating a more dynamic and fulfilling work environment.
• Expanding Scrub Tech Skills in Sterile Processing— Scrub techs were also cross-trained to the sterile processing department to keep them in a similar line of work while expanding their understanding of instrument reprocessing. This helped reinforce the importance of instrument cleaning before returning items to the OR.

Scott will be sharing more on cross-training benefits during her AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo education session on the topic this April in Boston. She'll also be sharing her experiences with successful implementation, which requires careful planning, clear communication, and the ability to navigate inherent challenges.

Essential Steps for Implementing a Successful Perioperative Cross-Training Program

Ahead of her session, she offered six tips to help implement a cross-training program.

1. Develop a Clear Action Plan

   A structured plan sets the foundation for success. Scott used an action plan template to outline the reason for cross-training, its value, measurable outcomes, and a SMART goal. This framework guided her Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, while a project plan template helped track tasks efficiently.

2. Structure Training

   Start with having a trainee observe or handle partial tasks and gradually progress to more complex duties. Effective communication of the rationale and benefits for cross-training will help generate enthusiasm and buy-in from staff.

3. Plan for Resistance

   Address concerns about increased workload, job insecurity, or fear of failure. Consider pairing hesitant staff members with mentors who can provide guidance and reassurance during the learning process. If staff express concerns about time commitments for cross-training, consider integrating training into regular shifts or staggering the schedule to avoid overwhelming them.

4. Build a Culture of Teamwork

   Encourage a supportive atmosphere where staff feel comfortable asking questions, helping one another, and sharing knowledge. When employees are empowered to enhance their skills and self-efficacy, they are more motivated and engaged in their work.

5. Foster a Growth Mindset

   Reframe mistakes as opportunities for learning and celebrate small successes while also encouraging staff to share their experiences and insights. This helps alleviate the pressure to be perfect and promotes continuous learning.

6. Monitor Progress and Be Flexible to Change

   Monitor feedback, address real-time challenges, and be flexible with adjustments to improve the program. When staff have a voice in decision-making, they’re more likely to feel invested in the outcome.

Discover more successful cross-training strategies by attending Courtney Scott’s session at AORN Expo 2025 in Boston this April.