Periop Talk

The opportunity to start fresh in a different department is a gift. Once you are there, take advantage of everything and everyone. Staff are designated to help teach you the art and science of their practice, so be physically, mentally, and emotionally present to absorb every bit of it. Understand that there are many ways to accomplish the same task and be open to a new way. Keep the best of what...

This updated Guideline for Safe Environment of Care provides new and revised recommendations on developing fire safety plans, performing fire risk assessments, fire safety training, establishing latex safety programs and chemical safety plans, among others. The purpose of this guideline is to maintain a safe environment of care for perioperative patients and personnel and prevent injuries or harm...

At the foundation of any clinical relationship is trust: trust between clinicians and patients, trust among the interprofessional team members, and trust between a new hire and the preceptor. Building a trusting relationship between the new hire and preceptor takes time, but there are some things that a preceptor can do to develop the trusting relationship. Be Explicit About Expectations Expectati...

The physical design of the surgical suite should support safe patient care, efficient movement of patients and supplies, and workplace safety and security. The surgical suite includes the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative patient care areas and support areas, including central and satellite sterile processing areas, administrative areas, waiting areas, and staff areas. In this episod...

Surgical smoke is the by-product of using energy-generating devices (e.g., electrosurgery units, powered surgical instruments), and it is full of carcinogenic and mutagenic cells. AORN speaks with Scott Hantz, a firefighter and perioperative director of nursing at the Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute at the Cleveland Clinic , about the dangers of surgical smoke and how the AORN Center of...

What are the three biggest changes to the Guideline for Medication Safety ? It all depends on your facility, but labeling, hazardous medication and antibiotic oversight were three issues that really stood out to guideline author Julie Cahn, sr. perioperative practice specialist at AORN. Medication errors are preventable but continue to occur despite regulations, governmental resources and oversigh...

Traveling nurses are here to stay. Join AORN President Vangie Dennis and Board Member Becca Vortman for a conversation with a staff nurse and a traveling nurse about how changing your approach to periop team culture can help ease challenges created by staff shortages and improve satisfaction. Support the show Welcome to the Periop Talk—your go-to podcast series where we examine the world of periop...

What are the new assessment tools and how is technology helping us reduce surgical patient injuries? Hear about practice changes from the AORN Sr. Director of Evidence-Based Perioperative Practice Lisa Spruce.  Support the show Welcome to the Periop Talk—your go-to podcast series where we examine the world of perioperative nursing. Episode after episode, we're bringing you professional tips,...

AORN President Vangie Dennis MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO speaks with Molly, a Millennial O.R. nurse-turned-clinical educator about how the “trophy generation” helped evolve perioperative teams - and the challenges and opportunities of a 5-generation workplace. Support the show Welcome to the Periop Talk—your go-to podcast series where we examine the world of perioperative nursing. Episode after episode,...

What are the biggest pros and cons of working among 5 different generations today? AORN President Vangie Dennis MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO speaks with Mary-Kate, a Gen Z periop nurse at a large New York hospital, about hurdles of being the youngest member of an OR team and challenging her generation’s stereotypes.  Support the show Welcome to the Periop Talk—your go-to podcast series where we examine th...

AORN leaders, like perioperative nurses everywhere, agree food can be the highlight for celebrating Perioperative Nurses Week. Listen in as Board President Vangie Dennis, Vice President Darlene Murdock, and Board Director Megan Nolan share some additional ways to have fun, bond with colleagues, and connect with the community. Spoiler alert: they love the food, too! #PeriopProud Support the show We...

AORN President Vangie Dennis MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO speaks with Wellstar Health System Assistant Vice President of Ethics, Advance Care Planning and Spiritual Health Jason Lesandrini MA, PhD(c), FACHE, HEC-C, LPEC about better preparing yourself to manage situations that go against the grain – from patient consent disputes to DNRs to unusual staffing ratios and more. Support the show Welcome to the...

AORN President Vangie Dennis MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO and periop nurse and mind-body medicine practitioner Dr. Margaret Below PhD, RN, NE-BC talk about micro-episodes of joy, gratitude and other simple, proven steps that will change how your body reacts and how you feel. They challenge nurses to try these two small steps over two weeks and see how they help you feel better. Support the show Welcome to...

Going “against the grain” of our patient care training during COVID-19 created moral injury in nurses. But a body of evidence proves that using very simple strategies will help you manage how your body reacts to stressors – and they are techniques available to everyone. AORN President Vangie Dennis MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO has a conversation with periop nurse and mind-body medicine practitioner Dr. Ma...

The President’s Corner is a series of conversations between AORN President Vangie Dennis, MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, and colleagues across the country about issues most important to AORN members and the perioperative community. In Episode 1 “ Nursing Uncharted – The Staffing Shortage” Vangie speaks with David Wyatt, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR,  past AORN President and Chief Nursing Officer of the University...

June is Pride Month and, to help raise awareness around inequities in healthcare, transmale Nik Unterkircher, MA, UX/UI, DEI Practitioner at AORN, talks candidly with Vice President of Nursing, Renae Battie’, MSN, RN, CNOR. They discuss common challenges transgender patients face in the binary world that will help nurses more fully understand patient anxiety, the potential for misdiagnosis, and sm...

The Joint Commission and AORN’s CEO Linda Groah discuss the challenges and solutions for an effective Time Out. Learn more.  Support the show Welcome to the Periop Talk—your go-to podcast series where we examine the world of perioperative nursing. Episode after episode, we're bringing you professional tips, clinical wisdom, and personal stories that highlight the real world of perioperative n...

How do nurse leaders and their teams break through complex, chaotic, and broken systems – with widespread burnout – to transform their fast-paced hospitals and ASCs into sustainable caring cultures?  Join us for AORN’s Fireside Chat , a live conversation about solutions to the most-asked question from perioperative nurses and leaders today: How do we rebuild from compassion fatigue, moral distress...

Cleveland Clinic Director of Surgical Nursing Dena Salamon, MSN, RN speaks with AORN virtually about how her health system confronted and acted to prevent unintentionally retained surgical items across more than 50 ORs. Her advice: “Just do it.” Support the show Welcome to the Periop Talk—your go-to podcast series where we examine the world of perioperative nursing. Episode after episode, we'...

Leveraging technology to prevent the devastating impacts from RSI on your patients – and your staff – is easier than you think. “It really does enhance your workflow. I can’t imagine NOT using it,” says Cleveland Clinic Director of Surgical Nursing Dena Salamon, MSN, RN . Hear how and why her system chose to use technology to support the OR team. Support the show Welcome to the Periop Talk—your go...

Why are so many of America’s most-trusted professionals frustrated and angry – and what can we do to reconnect with our passion for nursing? A periop nursing conversation and live Q&A with Dr. Phyllis Quinlan, AORN CEO Linda Groah, and AORN President Holly Ervine. Support the show Welcome to the Periop Talk—your go-to podcast series where we examine the world of perioperative nursing. Episode...

AORN's VP of Nursing, Renae Battie, MN, RN  CNOR its down with Guideline author Mary Alice Anderson, PhD, RN, CNOR, to discuss the new Guideline on complementary care and how to incorporate different complimentary care strategies into your practice. Support the show Welcome to the Periop Talk—your go-to podcast series where we examine the world of perioperative nursing. Episode after episode,...

AORN's VP of Nursing, Renae Battie, MN, RN  CNOR its down with Guideline author Mary Alice Anderson, PhD, RN, CNOR, to discuss the new Guideline on complementary care. Support the show Welcome to the Periop Talk—your go-to podcast series where we examine the world of perioperative nursing. Episode after episode, we're bringing you professional tips, clinical wisdom, and personal stories...

In this 3-part podcast series, AORN CEO, Linda Groah, MSN RN CNOR NEA-BC FAAN, and Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group discuss surgical trends, nurse leadership, and the value of quality data in today’s ASCs. Complete the free annual Leapfrog ASC Survey before November 30 to highlight the safety and quality of your ASC based on national, evidence-based measures that are of specifi...

In this 3-part podcast series, AORN CEO, Linda Groah, MSN RN CNOR NEA-BC FAAN, and Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group discuss surgical trends, nurse leadership, and the value of quality data in today’s ASCs. Complete the free annual Leapfrog ASC Survey before November 30 to highlight the safety and quality of your ASC based on national, evidence-based measures that are of specifi...