CEO Karen Franco, MBA, spent years struggling to fill surgical technologist (ST) positions at Pacific Surgery Center in Poulsbo, Washington, due to a lack of viable training options. Nearly 1,400 miles away, Deb Braly, RN, a nurse educator in the surgery department of San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center in…

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Editor's Note Escalating administrative hurdles from insurers are heightening tensions between healthcare payers and providers who criticize the measures for threatening patient care, Modern Healthcare reported January 22. According to the article, policies attracting criticism include stringent prior authorization rules, claims denials, and new fees for appeals. For their part,…

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Editor's Note Thousands of RNs nationwide plan to rally in support of safer staff and patients today, January 16, amid widespread introduction of technologies driven by artificial intelligence (AI), according to National Nurses United (NNU). NNU reported on the plans January 14, noting that more than 100,000 members of the…

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Editor's Note The 2023-2024 State of Well-Being Report shows a modest improvement in healthcare worker burnout, with 50% reporting feeling burned out in 2023, down from 54% in 2022. HealthLeaders Media reported on the results January 2. According to the article, The Mayo Clinic’s Well-Being Index compiled 79,022 assessments to…

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Editor's Note Nearly half of nurses and physicians surveyed for a KLAS Arch Collaborative report expressed a likelihood leaving their current organization within two years, with 21% of nurses and 13% of physicians actually departing. According to a December 6 report in HIT Consultant, this trend trend carries substantial financial…

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How should responsibilities associated with C-sections be divided between the OR team and the OB/GYN department at a staff-strapped rural hospital? This was just one of many questions I had never considered prior to attending the 2024 OR Manager Conference, which drew perioperative professionals to the MGM Grand in Las…

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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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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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Editor's Note   In a November 12 letter to Congress, the American Hospital Association (AHA) outlined its priorities for the lame-duck legislative session, focusing on measures to stabilize hospitals and health systems facing significant financial and operational pressures. If enacted, these recommendations would support the nation’s healthcare infrastructure amid rising…

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Editor's Note Between 2025 and 2029, US college enrollment is expected to drop by 15%, reflecting a decline in the perceived value of college and a rise in trade careers. Alongside other educational challenges and what Stephanie Woods, PhD, RN, referred to as the “demographic cliff”—rising death rates, slowing birth…

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