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The updated 2026 AORN Guideline for Instrument Cleaning introduces several new and updated recommendations, including enhanced PPE, borescope inspections, cooling devices for decontamination staff, cleaning verification, perfusion technology for lumened instruments, and protocols for delayed processing. Find key takeaways that strengthen safety and standardization in the perioperative settings.

Three States Hold Hearings on Surgical Smoke in October.

Robotic-assisted surgery demands precision and teamwork. Discover five practical strategies to help perioperative teams strengthen communication, build confidence, and improve patient safety in the robotic OR.

Join leading orthopedic experts at the Southeast Reconstruction Summit in Atlanta on November 22. Experience live surgeries, interactive case discussions, and the latest in hip and knee technology, while connecting with peers and taking home practical strategies to enhance surgical care.

Late first-case starts in surgery spike stress, costs, and cancellations—see how one ASC reversed the trend with Lean Six Sigma, improving on-time starts from 30% to 79% in 12 months.

Infection prevention remains a cornerstone of patient safety, but many ambulatory surgery centers still fall short of meeting standards. From outdated policies to weak surveillance systems, this blog highlights the most common deficiencies found in AAAHC surveys and offers actionable steps for improvement.

Explore six cutting-edge technologies revolutionizing perioperative nursing, from AI-powered decision support to virtual reality training. Discover how these innovations enhance patient care, improve workflows, and support nurse education.

Local-only anesthesia carries unique risks, including the potential for systemic toxicity, so it’s vital for perioperative nurses to have a clear, patient-centered plan. Learn five evidence-based tips to collaborate with the surgical team, calculate safe doses, reduce patient anxiety, educate patients, and prepare for adverse reactions.

AORN’s updated Guideline for Autologous Tissue Management introduces five new sections, key terminology changes, and evidence-based recommendations on teamwork, tissue preservation, and reproductive tissue.

Read up on new guidance from AORN’s much anticipated AI guideline that will be introduced at the 2026 Leadership Summit.

Discover how one surgical technologist built a DIY simulation lab to help nurses, technologists, and residents strengthen their skills, reduce fear, and build teamwork—all with expired supplies and creativity.

The story of the Time Out Tool Kit is a tale about the power that nurses have to change the world.

For this year's National Time Out Day, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and The Joint Commission are focusing on the full attention of all team members during the Time Out, as well as the importance of visible site markings.

Here’s how Elizabeth Kingsbury, MSN, RN, CNOR improved compliance and team engagement with Time Out, Sign In, Introductions, and other key safety elements of her hospital’s Surgical Safety Checklist.

Use Time Out 2023 on June 14 to pause and improve commonly reported risks that impact safety, suggests Haytham Kaafarani, MD, MPH, FACS, Joint Commission Chief Patient Safety Officer and Medical Director.

According to The Joint Commission, a major contributing factor leading to wrong surgeries is a lack of sufficient Time-Out procedures. National Time Out Day reminds surgical teams to reevaluate critical preop communications to prevent wrong surgeries and adverse events. Explore the latest evidence on best practices for Time Out and find resources to improve team communication in surgery.

The events of the past year have put inequities in healthcare under the microscope.

In this week's Periop Life blog, a nurse investigator shares her findings to help leaders address their retention challenges.