Courses by Credit Type

Safe patient handling when positioning a patient is not only important for staff safety as it is for patient safety through the appropriate use of equipment and ergonomics. This course will review best practices for safe patient handling, a culture of safety, and proper ergonomics while positioning a patient in the operating room and how to mitigate occupational injury.

Heat discomfort experienced by OR team members can contribute to diminished workflow efficiency and barriers preventing optimal team collaboration. This continuing education activity will describe the unique challenges associated with heat in the operating room and how it affects the surgical team.

Review the process of normal wound healing, as well as the consequences of delayed healing, and the techniques and products used to promote successful healing. The pathogenesis and consequences of adhesion formation are also explained in this course, followed by a discussion of the methods used to prevent adhesions.

This continuing education activity will review surgical treatment options for axial pain caused by DDD and new clinical evidence that assists spine surgeons in selecting the most effective treatment plan for appropriately indicated patients. It will provide an overview of the prevalence of axial back pain and DDD, followed by brief discussions of the relevant lumbar spine and intervertebral disc anatomy and the clinical implications of DDD.

An overview of the types of chest drains, indications for effective use and key management factors will be described. The safe and effective use of chest drainage systems will be discussed so that nurses can provide high quality care for their patients to achieve optimal care outcomes.

This educational program presents an overview of rigid operating laryngoscopes, which are critical in accessing the anatomical structures in the larynx for both diagnosis and treatment. Features of laryngoscopes that are designed to provide surgeons with the desired access for every procedure are emphasized.

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.

This course provides an overview of the considerations in the selection and use of surgical gowns as a protective measure for both patients and staff. You'll review five criteria used in the selection of surgical gowns, the various types of materials used in the manufacture of surgical gowns, and a case study that will help you solidify your understanding.

This ebook discusses foreign debris-initiated post-surgical complications and their associated pathological mechanisms. It reviews the sources of debris contamination, including a description of foreign microbody characteristics that can further amplify pathological responses. Strategies to determine the presence of lint in the OR and recommendations for minimizing their presence are highlighted.

This educational activity is for the healthcare professional who is involved in the care of patients who are at high risk for arthritis and comorbidities, such as obesity and depression. At-risk individuals include women and those of African American and Hispanic descent. This group demonstrates “health disparities”, which are preventable differences in health status.

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 reviews the clinical team members roles related to fluid management, clinical considerations for use of fluid management, proper patient positioning, possible complications associated with fluid management, safety considerations and recognized (AORN, AAGL) standards of care.

All patients and members of the perioperative team deserve to be protected from the byproducts of surgical smoke and the potential complications that can follow. The decision about whether to evacuate surgical smoke is often left up to the surgeon’s discretion. But consistently using smoke evacuation equipment in the perioperative environment creates a safer environment for all.

As more elective procedures are shifting to ambulatory surgery and endoscopy centers, these facilities are tasked with reprocessing an increasing volume of reusable medical devices, while adhering to the same regulations and standards as larger healthcare facilities. This program discusses how to meet these challenges and ensure devices are properly cleaned and disinfected.

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.

According to governing and recommending entities, frequent monitoring and timely feedback provides the best information to help drive and improve outcomes. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of various compliance monitoring methods, and implementing the most compatible method, can assist organizations with acquiring sustained improvement.

This continuing education activity will review the significance of irrigation fluid management, including the clinical care implications related to the use of irrigation fluid throughout the patient’s perioperative journey. The clinical team members’ roles related to irrigation fluid management will be outlined and the complications associated with the use of irrigation during a procedure will be reviewed.

This continuing education activity will address the role of environmental contamination in the transmission of HAIs, describe the latest research on environmental hygiene in the operating room (OR), and list the monitoring methods available to objectively evaluate environmental hygiene. Process improvement methods and new technologies such as self-disinfecting surfaces and “no touch” area cleaners utilizing ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and hydrogen peroxide vapor will be described.

Healthcare professionals will become familiar with evidence-based approaches for safe fluid waste management and disposal. They should also take an active role in incorporating safe fluid waste management in policies, procedures, and staff educational activities to reduce exposure to fluid waste across the healthcare setting.

This continuing education activity will describe observable symptoms of burnout, contributing factors, and opportunities to enhance resilience and prevent burnout. In addition, myths, facts, and recent events related to clinician burnout, will be explored.