Surgeons' Lounge: Orientation Just Got Easier

Orientation Just Got Easier

Theresa Criscitelli, EdD, RN, CNOR, set out to write the rules and principles of surgical nursing on the head of a pin so that new operating room nurses could quickly get the hang of working cases. The end result of Dr. Criscitelli's efforts: a slim, pocket-sized book called "Fast Facts for the Operating Room Nurse: An Orientation and Care Guide in a Nutshell." The concise, easy-to-access resource is aimed at nurses who are new to the operating room and the experienced nurses who guide them.

The $30 book (tinyurl.com/qb5ponk) contains a wealth of current, evidence-based clinical practice information that perioperative nurses need daily. Based on current standards and recommended practices, it is organized to provide speedy access to critical information, says Dr. Criscitelli, a doctorate-prepared nurse who has spent 26 years working in the operating room and is the assistant director of professional nursing practice and education at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y.

It addresses needed supplies and important protocols, personal and patient preparation, environmental concerns and documentation requirements, and describes the wide range of specific technical skills needed by both circulating and scrub nurses. Also included is an overview of the most common surgical procedures.

— Dan O'Connor