What happens when a surgeon uses the monopolar instrument set on 30-W coagulation mode to create an upper midline incision in a patient with a pacemaker? Pacemaker function is interrupted, causing a heart block that results in hemodynamic instability—or at least, this is what could happen without taking the necessary…

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Takeaways • Visual management (VM) tools support Lean efforts, leading to improved quality and efficiency. • VM boards provide an overview of processes, facilitate problem solving, and promote staff-manager collaboration. • Other VM tools such as color coding and customized instrument trays can help reduce errors and save money. Lean…

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Amid rising demand for surgical procedures, improving perioperative operations is a pressing priority for any hospital. For a system serving one of the fastest-growing counties in the US, it becomes an operational imperative. This is the case for WakeMed Health & Hospitals (WakeMed). With ORs spread across multiple facilities in…

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Although certification can be a career accelerator for any nurse, perioperative nurses in particular appear to be getting the message. Consider the most recent data from the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc (ABPANC), which offers the Magnet-recognized Certified Postanesthesia Nurse (CPAN) and Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) credentials.…

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Think of that colleague you would not miss if they called out sick. You may be short-staffed, but you know you are going to have a better shift without their chronic complaining, drama, and lack of productivity sucking all the energy and joy out of the department. Tolerated for too…

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When a speaker at a recent conference asked if anyone had achieved a first-case on-time start (FCOTS) rate above 90%, Jay Parker, BSN, RN, could have been the only one in the room with his hand up. However, Parker was not inclined to call attention to himself. As director of…

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Reliable and robust enough for daily use on most medical devices, steam is the most common sterilant in healthcare facilities. However, using steam properly requires a balancing act. For example, too much moisture can lead to wet packs, while steam that is too dry might not be sufficient to achieve…

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Eliminating physical distance as a barrier to communication makes it easier for caretakers to help not only their patients, but also one another. This is the promise of virtual care technology, which offers system-wide potential for providers facing growing demand for high-quality, cost-effective care. For perioperative leaders specifically, advantages of…

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