Marty Makary, MD, MPH, now a prominent cancer surgeon at Johns Hopkins, says he once took a year off from medical school because the culture didn’t feel right to him—“it wasn’t telling patients the truth.” He had witnessed wide variations in quality and the medical community’s lack of response. He…

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This month’s article on preop testing research had a familiar ring (page 20). Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston have found much more testing is being done than seems to be needed. They’re documenting the patterns. Seems not much has changed. These new studies join…

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When you read the disturbing reports linking nurses’ stress, burnout, and workload to worse patient outcomes, you wonder why staff and patient safety aren't addressed together. In just one example, a study found a high rate of nurse burnout was related with higher rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infection and…

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OR business managers and OR directors involved in the financial management of the surgical suite will have an opportunity to sharpen their skills at the second annual OR Business Manager Workshop, April 7 to 9, 2013, at the Marriott City Center, Denver. This intensive, interactive workshop is an opportunity for…

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How did OR Manager get started? We had an idea and worked to make it happen. This is the story of a small group of 5 women who have built OR Manager over the past 28 years. They include, besides myself (Ellie Schrader), Pat Patterson, Judy Dahle, MS, MSG, RN;…

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Attendance set a new record high, and excitement filled Caesars Palace in Las Vegas as perioperative nurse leaders gathered to celebrate 25 years of the OR Manager Conference held October 24 to 26, 2012. At the silver anniversary event, 1242 attendees discussed posters with their presenters, networked with colleagues and…

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She recalls it as one of her worst days as an OR director. She was paged to the postanesthesia care unit. When she got there, the surgeon told her there had been a horrible mistake. He had performed a total knee replacement on the wrong side. The surgeon asked if…

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A mentor and an advocate for patients and families are qualities that stand out in letters nominating Karen Martin, MS, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, as OR Manager of the Year. Martin, who is director of perioperative services at the Medical Center of the Rockies (MCR), Loveland, Colorado, will be honored at…

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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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Is your spark flickering? Maybe it’s dimmed in the face of the endless reports, e-mails, and urgent meetings you face every week. The to-do list seems endless. Next week’s priorities are overtaking this week’s, and they all seem to be in the wrong order. Connie Merritt, BSN, RN, PHN, is…

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