Editor's Note With several major gatherings planned for this spring—including those from AORN, AONL, ASCA, and ASPAN—a bustling events season offers perioperative leaders valuable opportunities for reflection on our careers and futures. Speaking of futures, the 2024 OR Manager Salary/Career Survey revealed an intriguing shift: only 9% of perioperative nurses…

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Editor's Note Prolonged exposure to general anesthesia during surgery contributes to long-term cognitive decline, affecting executive functioning, selective attention, mental speed, and information processing, according to a February 18 study published in the European Journal of Anaesthesiology. This prospective longitudinal cohort study followed 1,823 adults aged 25–84 in the Netherlands…

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Editor's Note Nurse-led preoperative visits significantly reduce patient anxiety by providing structured education, emotional support, and greater trust between patients and caregivers, according to a review published January 21 in the Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. Encompassing 13 studies on nurse-led preoperative visits published between 2000 and 2023, the review found…

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The idea that “you can take the nurse out of the OR, but you can’t take the OR out of the nurse” is not new. And yet, a recent panel discussion among emerging nurse leaders indicates this old adage rings truer today than ever. Speaking at the 2024 OR Manager…

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Takeaways • Although the central tenets of value-based healthcare have not changed, in many cases implementation has been reduced to little more than reducing costs, to the detriment of clinicians and patients. • The right incentives, such as recognition and work support, can effectively inspire clinicians to deliver high value…

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Editor's Note Optimizing surgeon stress could enhance surgical performance and patient outcomes, according to a large cohort study published January 15 in JAMA Surgery. Researchers focused particularly on physiological markers of surgeon stress during the first 5 minutes of a procedure, revealing a significant inverse relationship with major patient complications.…

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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 Psilocybin therapy significantly reduces symptoms of depression in frontline clinicians who experienced psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a randomized clinical trial published December 5 in JAMA Network Open.   The trial enrolled 30 clinicians, including physicians, advanced practice practitioners (APPs), and nurses, who provided frontline care…

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Editor's Note Using virtual reality glasses (VR-G) to watch immersive 360-degree nature videos significantly reduces preoperative surgical fear in patients undergoing open-heart surgery, according to a randomized controlled study published November 29 in the Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing. However, anxiety levels were not markedly affected, suggesting targeted efficacy in fear…

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Editor's Note Two recent reports highlight a widening gap in life expectancy between the US and other high-income nations. According to a December 6 article in Healio, the data point to modifiable risk factors and rising obesity rates as key contributors to what experts call a public health crisis. The…

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