AORN releases updated recommended practices, standards
eProducts provide immediate access to latest in AORN best practices
By Carina Stanton
Senior News Editor
This month AORN is publishing electronically several updated recommended practices, one brand new one and an updated version of its official Standards of Perioperative Nursing. These updated documents will be included in the 2010 printed edition of Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices, which is currently available for pre-orders. The 2010 book will also include all AORN guidelines and guidance statements, as well as all approved position statements.
By the end of 2009 there will have been six new and updated documents added to AORN’s flagship compendium of knowledge. Recommended Practices for Hand Hygiene in the Perioperative Setting and Recommended Practices for Electrosurgery were released this past summer. Four new documents will become available in December:
Transfer of Patient Care Information
The brand new Recommended Practices for Transfer of Patient Care Information includes guidance in establishing consistent and reliable methods for improved communication across the continuum of perioperative care. The recommended practices were developed in response to members’ needs related to the safe transfer of patient information to other healthcare providers. Key issues that are addressed in the recommended practices include phases of care, where patient information is transferred, communication across the continuum of care, standardized documentation formats, and examples of content that should be included in the transfer of patient information process.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Formerly titled “Recommended Practices for Endoscopic Minimally Invasive Surgery,” the updated Recommended Practices for Minimally Invasive Surgery provides guidance to reduce risks to patients and the perioperative team during minimally invasive surgery and computer-assisted technology procedures. It also covers managing distention media (eg, gas, fluid) and irrigation fluid. In addition, it includes new recommendations, as well as expanded recommendations, that address safety issues such as ergonomics, positioning and surgical site infection.
Environment of Care
The Recommended Practices for a Safe Environment of Care has been revised to include an important updated recommendation from ECRI Institute that the temperature of blanket warmers be set at 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
“This revision highlights the value our eProducts provide, because subscribers now have immediate access to this new information in the recommended practice, they don’t have to wait for the information that will be released in print early next year,” said Ramona Conner, RN, MSN, CNOR, AORN manager of standards and recommended practices.
Standards of Perioperative Nursing
AORN has also updated the Standards of Perioperative Nursing, which reflect the values and the priorities of the profession and serve as a foundation for the development of AORN’s Perioperative Nursing Data Set, perioperative competency statements, and the recommended practices. AORN’s Nursing Practice Committee worked for more than two years to reformat and update the content in these standards. The updates include the addition of advanced practice registered nurse measurements and revisions to the administrative standards to align with the American Nurses Association’s recently updated administrative standards.
“Standards are authoritative statements that describe the responsibilities for which RNs are accountable ,” said AORN Perioperative Nursing Specialist Bonnie Denholm, RN, MS, CNOR, who serves as AORN staff liaison to the Nursing Practice Committee. “The committee received many positive comments when the updated standards were up for public review and they are very excited to have them available to perioperative nurses.”
Accessing these resources
Earlier this year AORN launched two electronic platforms so that perioperative professionals can access the most current evidence-based recommendations as they are updated. The eSubscription platform provides facilities and other organizations multi-user access to this information. Single documents can be purchased by individuals via the eDocument platform.
“AORN is pleased we can offer updated content throughout the year instead of asking the perioperative community to wait for the annual publication of the printed Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices book,” explained Liz Haigh, AORN director of publishing and library services. “For folks who prefer a printed reference, we still plan to produce the book early each year updated with all the content released during the prior year. Additionally, in 2010, we will again have a CD version of the book available for purchase. We hope that by offering the content in these many formats we will meet the information needs of the wider perioperative community.”
Learn more about purchasing electronic versions of Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices.
Additionally, pre-orders are now being taken for AORN’s 2010 print edition of Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. To order your copy visit www.aornbookstore.org.
Read more news in AORN Connections.