Courses by Topic

This continuing education activity will provide an overview of the clinical considerations related to the use of IUSS using rigid containers. It will provide a brief overview of both the clinical and economic impact of surgical site infections today. The current guidelines and professional recommendations that outline the indications for IUSS and the use of rigid containers will be reviewed.

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 ebook reviews sterility assurance with a focus on packaging. It includes a brief overview of the impact of surgical site infections, key criteria for the appropriate selection and use of packaging materials, types of sterilization wraps, and the various professional guidelines for best practices related to packaging.

Review the problem of retained surgical items (RSI), including their economic and clinical implications. Assessing human factors, creating a safety, quality culture and how you, as a leader, can help reduce adverse events such as RSIs is also discussed. Strategies to reduce the incidence of RSIs and promote positive patient outcomes, including the role of adjunct technology, are outlined.

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 continuing education activity is designed to help improve patient outcomes and safety by providing evidence-based practices, and the latest regulatory and scientific information available about sterile processing. You'll explore key steps in the manufacturing process of “premium” grade surgical instruments, clinical considerations used when selecting instruments, as well as the importance of water quality used for processing are discussed.

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.

This continuing education activity will describe the structural differences between rigid and flexible endoscopes as well as surgical uses for both types of endoscopes. Additionally, the steps for cleaning and the Spaulding Classification System will be discussed as a basis for determining the appropriate sterilization method for flexible and rigid endoscopes.

During endoscopic procedures, video resolution and picture quality are critical for the surgeon to adequately examine the surgical area and identify abnormal tissue. This ebook reviews the evolution of endoscopic surgical instruments and the benefits of advanced technology that allow the healthcare team to provide efficient care to patients thereby reducing costs and improving outcomes.

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.

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. Review the key characteristics and considerations related to the selection and use of detergents and disinfectants and build your understanding of the applicable regulations and standards related to instrument care and cleaning.

This educational program identifies the importance of water quality in the Central Services Department (CSD) and the characteristics of water that impact the decontamination and cleaning process of surgical instruments. Learn about water monitoring, steam quality, and the critical role of CSD personnel in optimizing surgical patient outcomes.

This continuing education focuses on what is required to maintain the sterile barrier. Although all types of packaging systems are discussed, the primary focus is on wrap and rigid sterilization containers and how to maintain them. Pre-purchase evaluation, use, between use care and maintenance, preventive maintenance and storage are covered.

This educational program identifies the clinical considerations related to surgical instrument care, cleaning, test functioning, routine maintenance, and basic repairs. This information will help you keep instruments in excellent condition so patients can receive the best care possible.

There are several therapeutic modalities available today that either use the body’s natural thermoregulatory mechanisms to relieve pain, encourage healing, or enhance the body’s ability to maintain a normal core temperature. Therefore, nurses and other health- care professionals must remain aware of the use of localized temperature therapy as an effective treatment modality.

Nurses and infection preventionists are balancing staff and patient safety, prevention of hospital-acquired infections, and the ever-changing regulatory environment. This program focuses on isolation gowns because they are a critical element of PPE, in that they prevent staff and patient exposure to infectious diseases and improve patient outcomes.

Learn how to lengthen the instrument life cycle and protect your investment by applying best practices for instrument and endoscope reprocessing. Identify proper care and handling, plus discover the most common instrument damages and their causes.

This course will provide an overview of common healthcare-acquired infections and will offer practical information for appropriately following infection prevention practices that healthcare workers can use to protect themselves and the patients they care for.

Hillrom™ Safe Patient Handling & Mobility - Sabina® Sit-to-Stand Lift

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.