Nurse turnover is a problem that affects the performance and profitability of every health care organization. The cost of a nurse leaving a facility is roughly twice that nurse’s annual salary while a replacement is sought and orientation is completed. In addition, patient care may be compromised because the temporary…

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When the Pentagon decided in January to lift the military’s official ban on women in combat, it wasn’t news to many who have served. But women’s service stretches farther back than I realized—and one group involved nurses. In 1942, during World War II, 99 Army and Navy nurses were swept…

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Perspectives on health care reform vary widely, and some view it negatively. But Kathleen Sanford, DBA, RN, CENP, FACHE, believes it will provide nursing with new opportunities—along with new challenges. Sanford, senior vice president/chief nursing officer at Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), Englewood, Colorado, will share her perspective during a general…

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Nausea or vomiting after surgery can cause more distress than the pain, and even with modern anesthetics, it is not as rare as once thought. If the procedure is outpatient, symptoms may arise after the patient is at home, away from medical intervention. Thus, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) need to…

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A Healing Place” is the title for a 2013 Tournament of Roses Parade float to celebrate and honor nurses. The float will be in the New Year’s Day parade broadcast from Pasadena, California. For the first time, a nurse, Sally Bixby, MS, RN, CNOR, is serving as president of the…

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The number of nurse practitioners is expected to double by 2025, according to a new report in the July 2012 Medical Care. How many will be perioperative nurses? Advanced practice is a great opportunity for perioperative nursing. Advanced practice RNs (APRNs) are critically needed to serve the nation’s health needs.…

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Who assists at surgery in your OR? If not physicians, most commonly they are RN first assistants (RNFAs) and physician assistants, OR Manager subscribers report in a new survey. Only 15% of respondents say they do not use nonphysicians as assistants. Not surprisingly, more community hospitals (89%) use nonphysicians in…

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Experts offer this advice on oversight of assistants at surgery. Experts on the first assisting role offer this advice on oversight of assistants at surgery.   Know the scope of practice Assisting at surgery in most states is a function delegated by the surgeon, and persons who assist perform their…

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Does your hospital have advanced practice RNs (APRNs) who want to assist in surgery? Are your perioperative nurses, including RN first assistants, interested in advanced practice? Here are things to know about this developing role.   What is an APRN? The APRN is a direct patient care role that requires…

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Staff in the cardiovascular OR area of the new Sheikh Zayed clinical tower at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore will be able to locate certain equipment via computer and use a Skype-like camera system to share images of instruments and supplies with the sterile core and sterile processing unit.…

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