Because there are various types of detergents available today, all personnel involved in the care and cleaning of surgical instruments must be knowledgeable about these agents and the proper instrument cleaning process. This continuing education activity will provide a review of the key considerations related to the selection and use of detergents and disinfectants for instrument cleaning.

This educational activity provides an overview of gender and racial/ethnic musculoskeletal disparities, the relationship between obesity, osteoarthritis, and other comorbidities, and the potential impact of the AMA recognition of obesity as a disease. Also discussed are cultural and health literacy considerations of the patients most at risk for disability from osteoarthritis – obese African American and Hispanic women.

This course discusses information relevant to enteral nutrition, access, device selection and placement. It highlights key points that will help nurses educate themselves, their peers, and their patients about how to select the right tube at the right time and ensure successful delivery of enteral nutrition.

A collaborative effort and trust between OR and SPD staff is paramount to effective instrument care and infection control. Strategies for effective communication between departments and opportunities for improved relationships between OR and SPD staff will be discussed to help promote safe and efficient patient care.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) is the go-to treatment for gallstones and other gallbladder diseases. This learning activity will discuss the incidence and prevalence of symptomatic gallstones, the key surgical techniques established to ensure safe gallbladder removal, and the critical safety aspects and activities for laparoscopic instrument reprocessing and surgical supplies—such as cystic duct clips—that help every LC patient avoid complications and experience an optimal postoperative outcome.

The constant risks posed by a broad range of microorganisms in fast-paced healthcare environments can be overwhelming. This primer will cover (1) the most prevalent MDRO; (2) UV-C air and surface disinfection technologies and how to evaluate their broad-spectrum efficacy; and (3) hands-on best practices for safe, effective implementation.

The increased need to navigate to areas impossible to locate through touch, and an increased focus on oncoplastic approaches, have led to the development of several wire-free localization techniques that alleviate some of the evidence-based disadvantages of wire-guided localization. This program aims to educate a broader audience on the latest localization techniques for breast conservation surgery with a specific focus on Radar Localization.

Ultrasound probes are used in nearly all departments in clinical settings including point of care situations such as the bedside and remote clinics. This continuing education covers best practices to prevent the transmission of infection.

This program identifies concerns currently associated with intraoperative transfusion and describes effective PBM strategies, including the use of topical hemostatic agents. The importance of using a validated intraoperative bleeding scale to assess and compare the efficacy of these agents is emphasized.

This ebook has been designed to assist perioperative professionals deliver safe and effective patient care when smoke evacuation is used during operative and invasive procedures. The topics presented include: what we know about surgical smoke; the best defenses against surgical smoke; recommended United States (US) practices, guidelines, standards and regulations as well as international recommendations/guidelines on surgical smoke; and suggested steps for implementing a smoke evacuation program.

While great strides have been made in protecting the patient, perioperatively-acquired pressure injuries continue to occur. This program discusses factors that contribute to the formation of pressure injuries in surgical patients, pressure injuries identification and staging, and strategies to prevent perioperatively-acquired pressure injuries.

Healthcare providers working in the neonatal intensive care unit often care for patients who have vascular access devices. In this program, we will review umbilical catheters and peripherally inserted central line catheters relating to the neonatal patient. Providers must be aware of proper insertion considerations and appropriate care for these devices to decrease the risk of potentially serious complications.

What does it take to minimize turnover times and maximize caseload efficiency in bariatric surgical cases using flip rooms? In this eLearning course you’ll gain strategies and insights that include: staffing considerations, collaboration between pre-op and PACU teams, and innovative scheduling practices that foster workflow efficiencies.

Patient lifts play a crucial role in healthcare settings, assisting in the safe transfer of patients from one place to another, such as from a bed to a wheelchair. Explore the use of the Viking lift to assist in caring and supporting your patients. Every day, you tailor care and support for each of your unique patients.

Enhanced recovery protocols provide evidence-based guidance on best practices providers can use before, during, and after surgery to accelerate a patient’s recovery. This course will discuss strategies for enhancing patient recovery following surgical procedures to deliver quality care, improve outcomes, and reduce overall costs.

Test your understanding of nasal decolonization’s role in SSI prevention and learn more about how to improve outcomes for surgical patients through decolonization programs.

Explore different types of ostomies and the components used for pouching systems. You'll learn about the role of the interprofessional team while emphasizing best practices for ostomy management.

Preventing disease transmission is a major concern for all members of the perioperative team. This continuing education activity discusses the triangle of concern presented by bacterial penetration of barrier fabrics (ie, surgical gowns, face masks, and sterilization wraps) through forced air currents and its implications for the perioperative nurse.

This continuing education activity provides an overview of the general concepts of robot-assisted surgical systems, briefly revisiting historical and current developments, and describing the unique challenges associated various types of Trendelenburg positioning. Best practices for patient positioning during robotic surgical procedures will be outlined and product selection criteria for positioning equipment and devices for use during robot-assisted surgery will be discussed.

This course will review the primary types of PPE used in any healthcare setting, the hazards PPE is designed to protect against, and the criteria that must be considered when selecting PPE. Regulatory requirements for PPE use are discussed and case studies provide real-world applications of PPE to illustrate the implications associated with correct versus incorrect use of PPE in all healthcare settings.