Staffing and labor costs have been consuming the thoughts of managers at all levels of leadership. Since the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated work conditions and safety concerns, healthcare leaders have had to deal with an unprecedented number of resignations and increased turnover with the rise of travel nursing. Calls for greater…
Concerns about the pipeline of OR nurses existed long before COVID-19, but the pandemic has heightened these concerns. Many nurses plan to exit the profession in the next few years (sidebar, Workforce outlook). Unfortunately, the pipeline of replacement nurses is nearly dry as student experiences in the OR have been…
Perioperative nursing was the first recognized nursing specialty in the late 1800s. Modern education and training of nurses entering the specialty is still like this early period. Orientation is heavily reliant on workplace training and precepted learning experience. However, these long-standing methods have not been rigorously studied for effectiveness. The…
Orientation is the backbone of a sustainable workforce. Part 2 of OR Manager’s two-part series focuses on the orientation of experienced and per diem nurses, social onboarding, and how the pandemic has affected orientation, post-orientation efforts, and evaluation. Experienced nurses Experienced OR nurses are typically placed on the fast…
GENERAL Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Department of Defense or the US Government. Developing OR nurses for the future is a goal of all OR managers. Orientation programs can vary depending on the…
Editor's Note The US News and World Report on March 29 posted its annual list of best nursing schools for Master’s and Doctor of Nursing (DNP) degrees. Topping the lists for both Master’s and DNP degrees is Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, is ranked second for…
Even before the pandemic, many OR leaders struggled to maintain adequate staffing. However, COVID-19 has undoubtedly aggravated the situation, with many nurses choosing to exit the profession, leave the hospital setting, or seek higher wages as a per diem traveler. As OR leaders work to fill open positions, they may…
Nurses have the highest incidence of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in the US, and OR nurses have the highest incidence among all nursing specialties. Estimates in the literature say more than 50% report chronic back pain, and 10% must leave their profession entirely because of back injuries. It is also estimated…
In the March 2022 issue of OR Manager, the Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI) presented and analyzed the current sources of data that have historically made up a demographic representation of the perioperative nursing workforce. Our article also spoke to the issue of the lack of coordination among the groups…
Editor's Note The biggest obstacle to achieving 100% vaccination rate in the US is no longer whether vaccines will be manufactured fast enough, or if there will be enough for the country’s population, Lisa Doggett, senior medical director at HGS AxisPoint Health, told Health Leaders March 8. “Rather, it's concerns…