September 23, 2019
Oregon Smoke-Free OR Day February 4, 2020
AORN invites our Oregon members and your surgical team colleagues to spend the day at the Oregon State Capitol to advocate for surgical smoke evacuation legislation.
September 10, 2019
New Jersey Legislator Introduces Surgical Smoke Evacuation Bill
New Jersey Assemblywoman Muñoz introduced A. 5765, which would require health care facilities to adopt policies to reduce exposure to surgical smoke and employ a smoke evacuation system, on August 27. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee.
August 12, 2019
Cal/OSHA Posts Meeting Minutes and Comments on Draft Regulations
Agency expected to issue smoke evacuation regulations later this year.
July 10, 2019
Senate Introduces Title VIII Reauthorization Act (S. 1399)
AORN joins nursing community to thank Senators for their leadership.
June 24, 2019
Workplace Violence Legislation Introduced Across the Country
At least 16 states have introduced more than 30 bills focused on workplace violence in healthcare settings.
April 23, 2019
Georgia Surgical Technologist Bill Introduced
Bill would have Board of Medicine enforce surgical technologist certification.
April 23, 2019
Maine’s Legislature Looks at Surgical Technologist Certification and Regulation
Legislation details certification and continuing education requirements for surgical technologists.
April 23, 2019
Arizona Governor Signs Occupational Licensing Bill
Arizona to accept out-of-state professional licenses.
California Agency Reviewing Comments on Surgical Smoke Evacuation
California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board working toward proposed regulations addressing surgical smoke plume evacuation in California hospitals.
April 17, 2019
Pennsylvania Legislature Looks at Allied Health Care Providers
Pennsylvania is considering a certification requirement for surgical technologists and central sterile supply technicians.
April 17, 2019
Texas Considers Continuing Education for Surgical Technologists
Texas looks to add continuing education requirement for grandfathered surgical technologists.
March 28, 2019
Colorado Second State to Enact Surgical Smoke Evacuation Law
On March 28, 2019, Colorado Governor Jared Polis took the important step to sign into law a surgical smoke bill that will protect Colorado perioperative nurses and surgical team members from the harmful effects of plume.
February 27, 2019
Massachusetts HIV Testing after Occupational Exposure
Massachusetts House Docket 1754 attempts to update the Massachusetts HIV testing law related to occupational exposure.
February 13, 2019
PA Allied Health Care Bill Dies in Committee
A bill that would have required certification for both central service technicians and surgical technologists in Pennsylvania was killed in committee earlier this month.
February 13, 2019
Oregon Introduces Smoke Evacuation Legislation
New Oregon bill has bipartisan, bicameral support and is slated for hearing soon.
February 13, 2019
Colorado Smoke Evacuation Bill Passes House
Bill would require hospitals and ASCs to have smoke evacuation policies by May 2021.
January 23, 2019
Nurse in Washington Scholarship
AORN Government Affairs will cover the registration and travel expenses for one active AORN member to attend NIWI on March 24-26, 2019, in Washington, D.C.