AORN

?? Celebrate and share with us! ?? Can you believe it? ?? The Stitch, your e-zine home for new perioperative nurses, is turning 1??! ?? To make our next year even better, we need your help. Take just 1?? minute let us know what you think about The Stitch. Your feedback is super important to us! ?? ?? Take the Survey Here: https://lnkd.in/gFBJKU3s As a thank you, you can opt-in to win one of three $50 gift cards! ??? Thanks for being part of our community and helping us grow. We can’t wait to hear from you! ?? *Must complete survey by November 8, 2024, to be entered to win. Three winners will be chosen at random. Winners will be notified on November 11 via email.

??Effective Multimodal Pain Protocols?? Periop nurses, are you up to speed on multimodal pain management protocols? These methods are game-changers in pain control and patient recovery! Rather than relying on just opioids, which we know come with their own set of complications, multimodal approaches attack pain from different angles. Here's how it works: 1. Multiple medications: Use a combination of acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and gabapentin to address pain on different pathways. 2. Regional anesthesia: Incorporate nerve blocks and other local techniques for focused pain control. 3. Reduced opioid use: This is the big one! By using a multimodal approach, you can minimize opioid consumption, lowering risks like nausea, constipation, and even opioid addiction. But it’s not just about the meds! ?? Communication is just as important. Setting realistic pain expectations with your patients gives them a clearer understanding of what to expect. Recovery doesn't mean zero pain, but manageable pain, and we can help guide them to smoother, faster recoveries. The goal? Better patient outcomes—quicker discharge, fewer complications, and more satisfied patients who are in control of their recovery process. Multimodal protocols are evidence-based and proven to be effective. They're already being adopted by hospitals around the country to improve post-op care. ??Are you using multimodal pain protocols in your OR? If so, tell us what’s working for you in the comments below. Get the full story from Outpatient Surgery Magazine: https://lnkd.in/gm_fVqd7 #ASC #AmbulatorySurgeryCenter #Outpatient #PatientSafety #Medication #MedicationManagement #MedicationSafety #Nurse #Nurses #ORNurse #Opioids #NurseLife #Nursing

Together We Rise – Here's Why ?? “Together We Rise calls for a commitment to each other and to the patients who depend on us. It’s a promise to support and uplift one another, to celebrate our successes and navigate our challenges with grace and resilience.” - Nakeisha M. Tolliver, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC, CNOR, CSSM ?? Who's a nurse that inspires you to be better? Be sure to tag them in the comments below and don't forget to register for Expo 2025 in Boston! #AORN2025 #Nurse #Nursing #Nurses #NurseLife #ORNurse #ORLife #Periop #Perioperative #PeriopNurse

The Carbon Footprint of Health Care: Tips for Reducing Waste in the OR Did you know the United States health care sector is the second-largest contributor to landfill ?? waste after the food industry? The OR is part of the problem: 33% of total hospital waste comes from the OR. Check out these tips on how you can help minimize waste. ?Utilize the 5 Rs of waste minimization: ? Reduce supplies ? Reuse supplies ? Recycle supplies ? Rethink and repurpose supplies ? Research ? Communicate with the surgical team about what supplies are needed for each case: ? Don’t open a whole kit just for one item! ? Reevaluate single-use items in current kits and ask suppliers to repackage kits as needed. ? Revisit instrument sets frequently opened and wasted for single instruments. ?Participate in waste audits, which includes: Types of waste, segregation requirements, and proper disposal methods. ?Learn your institution's waste management policies and procedures, including: Assessing the type and amount of waste generated to identify areas for improvement. Whether you’re a new perioperative nurse just learning about the field, or an educator or a preceptor passing knowledge along, the Stitch??has you covered. Share tips from your facility in the comments! #Nurse #Nurses #NurseLife #Nursing #ORLife #ORNurse #Periop #Perioperative #PeriopNurse

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?? Owens & Minor will match all donations made to the AORN Foundation ?? The AORN Foundation is thrilled that @Owens & Minor is supporting our mission to empower perioperative nurses as they advance patient and workplace safety. From now until December 31, Owens & Minor will match all donations made to the AORN Foundation, up to $30,000! ???????? ?? Your contributions provide essential resources and opportunities for perioperative nurses, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to deliver the highest quality care. We provide funding for educational events, tool kits, and safety programs, as well as academic scholarships and professional certification grants for individual nurses. Our goal is to help nurses maintain evidence-based knowledge and competencies to ensure safe and quality care. ????? Join us in making a difference! ?? https://lnkd.in/gED6MS6m #AORNFoundation #EmpowerNurses #NurseScholarships #NurseingEducation #SupportNurses #MakeADifference #HealthcareFuture #OwensandMinor #ORNurse #Nurse #Nusring #Nusrs #NurseLife

A Heartfelt Revolution: The Evolution of Cardiac Surgery Cardiac surgery has undergone a dramatic transformation, thanks to groundbreaking advancements that have revolutionized the treatment of heart conditions. From the pioneering days of open-heart surgery to the minimally invasive procedures of today, the field has witnessed a remarkable evolution. The Dawn of Open-Heart Surgery A pivotal element in the history of cardiac surgery was the development of the heart/lung machine. While a medical school student, Dr. Michael DeBakey designed a roller pump that was used for transfusing blood from person to person. This would later be used as a component of a heart/lung machine he would help develop. Beyond the Heart-Lung Machine Dr. DeBakey's contributions to cardiac surgery extend far beyond his involvement with the heart/lung machine. He was a true pioneer in the field, making significant advancements in various areas of cardiac care: Aortic Surgery: DeBakey developed innovative techniques for repairing aortic aneurysms and dissecting aneurysms, significantly improving outcomes for patients with these life-threatening conditions. Vascular Surgery: He pioneered the use of arterial grafts for vascular reconstruction. Carotid Endarterectomy: He made observations of atherosclerotic blood vessels that led him to perform the first carotid endarterectomy, a procedure to treat carotid artery disease. Thank you, Lindsey Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, for this amazing history lesson! Photo: Lindsey Joyce at Houston's DeBakey Library and Museum. What do you know about the history of your facility? Share your throwback theater tidbits in the comments! #Nurse #Nurses #NurseLife #Nursing #ORLife #ORNurse #Periop #Perioperative #PeriopNurse

Forget ghosts and goblins, these real-life horrors make a nurse’s blood run cold. ?? From the spooky and shadowy to the gross and ghoulish, we nurses know all about horror. ?? ? EMR exorcism. Your EMR program must be possessed by gremlins. It's only the second case of the day and you've been kicked out of the system twice. ? Devil is in the details. Following the rules, knowing the recommendations and keeping up with my responsibilities leave me walking out the door like Frankenstein at the end of the day. ? The vanishing tech. She's ghosted — again — after leaving the OR 3 other times to "drop something off in PACU" or "pick something up in pre-op" or "get her badge she forgot in the car." ? The impossible manager. She swoops in on her broomstick to ask whose coffee mug was left out on the desk at the nurses' station and wonders aloud why "we are only 70% compliant with the rollout of that new screening tool." ? The surveyor's arrival. By nature, the accreditation surveyor's appearance is always a terrifying one. After all, an organization you paid money to is visiting to fine you for the way you've always been doing things. Talk about a nightmare. ? Disappearing help. They offered to get the case started and then, when it's time to shave 2 areas and prep 3, your saint has suddenly vanished into thin air like a specter. Put your hat and booties on, get some gloves and get over here and help! ? Unexpected add-ons. As you head for the lounge you feel a chill in the empty corridor. Your room was the first to come down and as you draw near the schedule board, there it is [sinister organ music playing]: an add-on! Worst, it's with Dr. Dread! [Psycho stabbing chords here.] Using humor to get through a long day of surgery usually does the trick and, besides, I have the treat of working alongside surgical pros who are scary good at their jobs. Share your nursing horror stories below! ?? Happy Halloween from Outpatient Surgery Magazine! ?? Thanks to Paula Watkins for the lighthearted, spookiness. #ASC #Outpatient #OutpatientSurgery

“She wants to be a nurse for Halloween.” ?? ?? Stephanie Reed, MSN, RN, CNOR, FNE-A/P, first met a young girl during a VPI shunt revision to treat hydrocephalus, a condition where cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain, affecting mental function. During surgery prep, Stephanie ensured that the girl and her mother felt comfortable, staying by their side until the little patient fell asleep. ?? ? A few weeks later, the girl returned for another surgery, and both she and her mother immediately recognized Stephanie. While chatting, the mother mentioned the girl’s wish to dress as a nurse for Halloween. ???? Without missing a beat, Stephanie gathered disposable gowns, gloves, a hat, and a mask to create the perfect nurse costume. “When I saw how much it meant to her, I knew I had to make it happen,” Stephanie said. The thoughtful gesture not only brought joy to the girl but also left a lasting impact on her mother. ?? This story is a reminder that the care nurses provide extends far beyond the operating room. Join us as we continue to celebrate inspiring stories like Stephanie’s throughout 2024 for AORN’s 75th anniversary. Have a story to tell? We want to hear from you. Share it at: https://bit.ly/441hYHZ #Nurselife #ORnurse #ORLife #Nursing #Nurses #PeriopPortraits #Nurse #PeriopNurse #Perioperative

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