The use of storytelling and listening to staff stories can be a valuable tool to help OR managers understand and mitigate workplace challenges and incivility. These are the findings of a doctoral study by Patricia Littlejohn, MBA, RN, CNOR, director, neurosciences and program development, Regional Medical Center, San Jose, California.…
Learning to circulate can be overwhelming and intimidating for new nurses. They may learn two or three different ways to set up a room, on two or three different days, from two or three different preceptors. Having a consistent, systematic way to set up an OR can help relieve the…
Editor's Note An aspect of “never events”that is rarely discussed is the emotional toll they take on staff, according to this editorial. In each case, staff experience an enormous amount of emotional trauma, and a significant amount of accusation and stigmatization occurs. It is not enough to prevent and manage…
Editor's Note Nurses working shifts of 12 hours or longer were more likely to report job dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction with schedule flexibility, intention to leave their current jobs, and burnout in this study. Some of the adverse outcomes, such as high burnout, may pose safety risks for patients and the nurses,…
The annual OR Manager Conference gives OR directors and managers an opportunity to gain wisdom and inspiration while enjoying a change of scene. Regardless of whether they have attended the conference for many years or they are newcomers, it's always an occasion when they can connect with peers who truly…
Editor's Note New RNs working night shifts and overtime are at increased risk for injury, this study finds. Those working weekly overtime were associated with a 32% increase in the risk of needle sticks. New nurses working night shifts correlated with a 16% increase in the risk of sprain and…
Editor's Note The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission has voted unanimously to approve the state’s first nurse staffing mandate. It calls for no more than two patients to be assigned to one nurse in all ICUs, including burn units and NICUs. In some cases just one patient is assigned to one…
Our Take Distractions in the OR are associated with higher mental workload and stress and poorer teamwork among OR personnel, a study finds. The most prevalent distractions were those from external staff, followed by case-irrelevant conversations. Case-irrelevant conversations initiated by surgeons were associated with lower teamwork in surgeons and anesthesiologists. Equipment-related…
Many healthcare professionals are all too familiar with the phenomenon of becoming burned out. In the midst of the intense work environment and long hours, they often struggle to remember why they do what they do, and they become disconnected. When Rich Bluni, RN, LHRM, kicks off this year’s OR…
Depression affects 9% of adults in the US and 18% of hospital-employed nurses, including those who work in perioperative settings. Nurses with depression not only suffer themselves, but their illness can impact their productivity and quality of care as well as their coworkers’ work lives. Nurse managers need to be…
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