The effort to pass mandatory surgical smoke evacuation legislation in statehouses across the U.S. continues in 2025 with the ultimate goal of removing toxic plume from the air of every OR in every state.
AORN's new Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) guideline provides a comprehensive, evidence-based framework for optimizing perioperative care and improving patient outcomes. Developed collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team, the guideline covers all phases of surgical care, from pre-op preparation to post-op recovery, emphasizing patient-centered interventions and standardized protocols. Implementing ERAS can lead to reduced costs, decreased opioid use, improved patient outcomes, and more equitable care.
A surgical safety checklist is a cornerstone of perioperative practice, fostering safety behaviors, improving team communication, and enhancing risk awareness.
Foley catheter injuries are more common than you think, but simple interventions can reduce risks. Learn key strategies from a quality improvement team that improved patient safety with evidence-based best practices.
In the January issue of Periop Leader, a feature article provided Part One of the webinar, “Perioperative Staffing and Productivity.” In this issue, Part Two wraps up what you need to know to develop your budget in these areas.
In the recent Leader Exchange webinar that was presented by the AORN Center for Perioperative Leadership, a multi-disciplinary panel discussed their work to optimize their ORs. In the meantime, here are some quick tips that were provided by the panel experts from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Taking small moments to recharge can make a big difference in a nurse’s day. Simple habits like a daily push-up challenge, yoga, music, or mindfulness can help relieve stress, boost energy, and promote well-being.
Many patients enter the OR already cold, leading to preventable complications. Prewarming in pre-op, optimizing warming device use, and improving staff education can enhance normothermia compliance, reducing surgical risks and improving recovery.
Intraoperative hypothermia can increase bleeding, infection risk, and recovery time, yet it’s often overlooked. Proactive temperature management—starting with prewarming, using multimodal warming methods, and addressing OR cooling factors—ensures better patient outcomes.
As a perioperative nurse, you can mentally put yourself into a situation and think, “What would I have done?”
As a new nurse, how can I interact and develop relationships without gossiping?
This article will describe the VARK learning styles model, identify the characteristics of each learning style, and provide tips so you can support learners using their preferred style.
Take care of yourself when going through loss: participate in debriefs, talk with a friend or therapist, take a break, and learn what you can to keep growing.
Get at a glance at the steps to perform a vaginal prep.
A siloed perioperative team can lead to inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and staffing challenges—especially when vacancies stretch teams thin. Cross-training can break down barriers, strengthen teamwork, and create a more adaptable, resilient periop team.
Discover AORN's guidelines for surgical attire in the operating room. Learn how to choose appropriate clothing, head coverings, and footwear to minimize the risk of surgical site infections. This guide covers best practices for perioperative personnel, including proper attire for visitors and recommendations for cleaning personal devices.
This Periop Portrait highlights how humor can lighten the mood in high-pressure environments. That one moment of shared laughter diffused the stress and brought our team closer together. Even in the intensity of surgical cases, those small, funny moments can make all the difference.
In this week’s Periop Life, Dr. Michael Rempel, DNP, RN, CNOR, shares six actionable strategies to help you support their transition into practice.
Here are three tips to be more effective when communicating a message in the perioperative setting.
