Explore the vast range of titles available.

THIS MONTHSelecting nonsterile sharps disposal containersKey words: sharps safety, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), bloodborne pathogens, occupational exposure, disposal container. Life support certification requirements for perioperative RNsKey words: basic life support, advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), cardiopulmonary resuscitation, certification, training. Using crisis checklists in the perioperative environmentKey words: emergency manuals, cognitive aids, clinical emergencies, crew resource management, crisis checklist. Walking patients to the ORKey words: fall prevention, fall risk, mobility assessment, safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM), ambulate.

Improving OR first‐case on‐time starts (FCOTS) is a multifactorial challenge for perioperative nurses and leaders seeking to improve efficiency. This article describes the implementation of a quality improvement project at a hospital‐based ambulatory surgery center to decrease FCOTS delays, which did not allow the organization to meet its FCOTS adherence goal of 80% or higher, averaging 59% in 2023. Through the creation and adoption of standard work documents to reduce variability, nurses were given a preoperative time frame within which to complete the nursing components required to prepare a patient for the OR. When comparing intervention and baseline data after the three‐month intervention period, a significant reduction in total minutes delayed was noted—from 1,422 to 799 minutes (P < .001)—as well as an improvement in FCOTS compliance to 82%. Estimated cost savings were $35,111 for the three‐month intervention period, demonstrating that modifications to nursing workflows alone can improve perioperative efficiencies.

ABSTRACTThe perioperative environment presents unique ergonomic challenges related to lifting and moving patients. These challenges place perioperative team members and patients at an increased risk for injury. The updated AORN “Guideline for safe patient handling and movement” provides perioperative nurses with guidance on safe patient handling and movement practices to help minimize the incidence of injuries to patients and health care workers. This article provides an overview of the guideline and discusses recommendations for a safe patient handling and mobility (SPHM) program, ergonomic planning and facility design, SPHM technology, an individualized SPHM and ergonomic plan, and fall risk and mobility assessments. It also includes a scenario describing concerns related to patient and perioperative team member safety. Perioperative nurses should review the guideline in its entirety and apply the recommendations for safe patient handling and movement.

ABSTRACTThe development of novice perioperative nurse competence is vital for high‐quality care in demanding, specialized health care environments. We used a qualitative phenomenographic approach to explore novice perioperative nurses’ perceptions of competence and strategies to enhance it. We interviewed 10 novice nurses who worked in a Korean university hospital. We identified the following four descriptive categories concerning novice perioperative nurses’ perceptions of nursing competence: recognize the priority of suitable alternatives in crisis situations, ensure patient safety by mitigating the risk associated with surgical procedures, align oneself for a collaborative role with the surgical team, and recognize one's role within the team framework. Five strategies emerged for enhancing competence: mindfulness to maintain resilience, internalize knowledge, adherence to fundamental principles in surgical nursing, focus on details to reduce errors, and mutually effective communication to ensure patient safety. These findings may aid educators when developing onboarding programs for novice perioperative nurses.

ABSTRACTPerioperative team members wear surgical attire when working in the OR. Wearing clean surgical attire is important to maintain a high level of cleanliness for patient safety. The recently updated AORN “Guideline for surgical attire” provides perioperative nurses with recommendations for wearing surgical attire in the semirestricted and restricted areas of the perioperative setting. This article discusses recommendations for laundering; head coverings; shoes; and identification badges, access cards, and personal items. It also includes a scenario describing compliance monitoring for an updated policy related to cleaning cell phones and performing hand hygiene after cell phone use. Perioperative nurses should review the guideline in its entirety and apply the recommendations for wearing surgical attire in the perioperative environment.

ABSTRACTCreating a safe environment for performing surgical procedures is essential to achieve successful patient outcomes and protect the perioperative personnel who are providing care. Numerous factors challenge the provision of a safe environment of care and create a complex setting for perioperative nurses to manage. The updated AORN “Guideline for a safe environment of care” provides perioperative nurses with recommendations for establishing a safe environment for both patients and personnel. This article provides an overview of the guideline and discusses recommendations for implementing fire safety protocols, using warming cabinets, and creating a latex‐safe environment. It also includes a scenario describing the care of a patient with an unidentified latex allergy who is undergoing a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and hiatal hernia repair. Perioperative nurses should review the guideline in its entirety and implement recommendations as applicable in operative and other procedural settings.

ABSTRACTThe AORN surgical attire guideline promotes cleanliness in the perioperative environment to minimize patients’ risks of developing surgical site infections. In 2020, the surgical attire guideline adherence decision‐making model was published based on findings from a study involving New England intraoperative team members. To explore the model's transferability across the United States, we replicated the 2020 study with intraoperative personnel who did not live or work in New England. The study results included the same core category as the 2020 study (ie, critical thinking), and we confirmed that intraoperative team members across the United States weigh the influence of various factors when deciding to what extent they would adhere to the surgical attire guideline. The results showed transferability of the theoretical model to perioperative settings across the United States. This model can be used to enhance intraoperative team members’ surgical attire guideline adherence decisions.

ABSTRACTSterile technique is the collective actions taken to reduce potential contaminants in the OR and maintain a sterile field during operative or other invasive procedures. Practicing and applying the principles of sterile technique is a cornerstone of perioperative nursing and providing safe patient care. The recently updated AORN “Guideline for sterile technique” provides perioperative nurses with information on the principles of and processes associated with sterile technique. This article provides an overview of the guideline and discusses recommendations for actions to take before preparing the sterile field, while preparing and maintaining the sterile field, for limiting movement, for surgical wound classification, and for quality. It also includes a scenario describing the implementation of isolation technique (ie, clean closure) for colon procedures. Perioperative nurses should review the guideline in its entirety and apply the recommendations when practicing sterile technique.

Maintaining competence is a professional responsibility for nurses. Individual nurses are accountable for their practice, as outlined in the American Nurses Association’s Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice. Nurses across clinical settings face the sometimes daunting challenge of staying abreast of regulatory mandates, practice changes, equipment updates, and other workplace expectations. In the complex, evolving perioperative setting, professional development is a priority, and the need for ongoing education is critical. However, nurses’ efforts to engage in their own development can be hampered by a lack of time, limited access to educational resources, or cost concerns. This article provides an overview of nursing professional development and offers some resources to help individual nurses maintain or enhance their knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

ABSTRACTThe perioperative setting is a complex environment requiring interdisciplinary team collaboration to avoid adverse events. To protect the safety of patients and perioperative team members, communication among personnel should be clear and effective. The recently updated AORN “Guideline for team communication” provides perioperative nurses with recommendations on the topic. To promote effective communication in perioperative areas, all personnel should value and commit to a culture of safety. This article discusses recommendations for supporting a culture of safety, developing and implementing an effective hand-off process and surgical safety checklist, and developing education strategies for team communication. It also includes a scenario describing the implementation of a standardized, electronic surgical safety checklist in the OR. Perioperative nurses should review the guideline in its entirety and apply the recommendations for team communication in their working environments.