Developing Your Skills

For novice perioperative nurses, adjusting to the demands and expectations of the OR can be a daunting task. This article explores five ways that a novice perioperative nurse can excel in surgery and establish themselves as a respected and trusted member of the OR team.

Perioperative personnel rely on team members from other departments and services, such as radiology, laboratory, environmental services, nutrition services, medical records, and respiratory services, to provide specific patient-centered care needs.

Your scrub person is the direct link between you and the patient. If they have what they need, the surgeon has what they need. If they are not stressed, they present a calm front to the surgeon.

Not only are travelers filling in gaps for overworked staff, but they are also helping ensure that patients still receive the care they need.

Navigating the operating room environment as a new nurse can be daunting; incorporating these communication tips can help you overcome the initial challenges.

Do you know the elements of the informed consent process and your role in the process?

Everyone has had the experience of being the new person in a group. It is an exciting time but may also be frustrating when no one listens to you when you speak up.

Did you know that 33% of total hospital waste comes from the OR?

One of the common questions I am asked by novice nurses is, “When will I know everything I need to be a safe and competent perioperative nurse?” Here is how I respond to those nurses.

The ESU consists of an electrosurgical generator with connections for a foot pedal, handpiece, and dispersive electrode (ie, grounding pad, Bovie pad).

Be prepared, communicate, and keep your cool! Read all these insights for surviving in the OR as the new person on the team.

You may think you know surgery all too well; however, ERAS protocols have been built to further optimize patient recovery.

To prevent the development of SSIs, particularly those caused by multidrug-resistant organisms, surgical instruments should be kept as clean as possible during operative and other invasive procedures to reduce the build-up of biofilms.

Patient and worker safety is an essential consideration when using the chair positioning device.

This article discusses instrument contamination, how to deal with contamination, and tips for speaking up about contamination.

Thriving as an introverted OR nurse is possible through awareness and communication.

This article describes what forensic evidence is and provides recommendations for handling it to maintain integrity.

Nurses speak up for so many that sometimes they forget to speak up for themselves.

Learn about important components of ACDF, such as patient assessment, positioning, surgical prep, needed supplies, and more.

The surgeon will choose suture needles based on the procedure type, location of the surgical incision, and tissue type.