ORNAC Journal

INTRODUCTION: Optimizing the processes involved in managing operating suite activities is an essential element in obtaining gains in efficiency. The early opening of surgical trays could represent an innovative practice for reducing operating times and wait periods between surgeries as well as for increasing the number of daily surgeries. The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the risks and benefits of introducing this practice in the operating room. METHODOLOGY: A systematic literature review was conducted in various indexed databases as well as in the grey literature in order to identify synthesis studies, clinical guidelines and randomized and non-randomized studies on the impact of opening surgical trays early...

Just last year the BC Operating Room Nurses Group (BCORNG), now the Perioperative Registered Nurses Association of BC (PRNABC), celebrated 50 years of promoting perioperative nursing education and practice since its inception in 1966. Almost since . the beginning, BCORNG/PRNABC has advocated for a close relationship with the National Perioperative Nursing Organization, and has actively participated in the formation and growth of the Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada (ORNAC). This article includes some highlights from the last five decades of BCORNG/PRNABC with a focus on connections and experiences with ORNAC...

A structured approach to communication between health care professionals contains introduction/identification; situation; background; assessment and request/recommendation (ISBAR). ISBAR was introduced into the post anaesthetic care unit (PACU) of a large Victorian health service in 2013. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of an education program on ISBAR compliance. METHOD: A pre/post-test design using a 14-item audit tool was used to measure compliance to ISBAR before and after an education intervention in two acute hospitals in Melbourne, Victoria...

The need for a clean perioperative environment is a basic principle for all perioperative team members. Recent evidence suggests that the environment plays a role in the occurrence of health care-associated infections (HAIs), including surgical site infections. Frequently cleaning high-touch surfaces helps prevent the spread of infections, and routinely cleaning and disinfecting the patient's environment can reduce the level and frequency of contamination and the risk of HAIs. Perioperative personnel should use a bundled approach to perform a standardized cleaning routine and implement a successful monitoring program...

Blood transfusions are lifesaving and life-sustaining treatments given to patients in many clinical areas of a hospital with a large proportion occurring in the Operating Room (OR).6 Transfusion related errors are rare events in the OR but they do occur and are often severe enough to cause patient morbidity and mortality. Therefore, care must be taken in all elements of the transfusion process. The purpose of this article is to build awareness around the potential for critical errors during the blood transfusion process in the OR and ways in improving the safety of blood transfusion for all surgical patients...

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to blood and body fluids is a major concern to health care professionals working in operating rooms (ORs). Thus, it is essential that hospitals use fluid waste management systems that minimise risk to staff, while maximising efficiency. METHOD: The current study compared the utility of a 'closed' system with a traditional canister-based 'open' system in the OR in a private hospital setting. RESULTS: A total of 30 arthroscopy, urology, and orthopaedic cases were observed...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

In Edmonton Zone, the attrition rate among new perioperative nursing staff is an issue of concern and many ORs are facing noticeable staffing challenges. In the Edmonton area there are approximately 79 surgical suites. A series of simulation labs were established in 2015 to provide perioperative nurses in order to increase their comfort on the job and to help build confidence levels. The expectations for this simulation are an overall improvement in perioperative nurses' competency, a reduction in OR orientation and training time, and a decrease in the attrition rates among OR nurses...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Surgical attire can be an emotional and controversial topic among health care providers. The reality, however, is that exposing perioperative patients to the skin and hair of the perioperative team members may be putting patients at risk for a surgical site infection.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the substantial risks posed in the surgical environment, compliance in wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in the operating room (OR) and the post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU) amongst health care workers is considered poor globally. Lack of awareness and limited access to information about the appropriate precautions to prevent exposure contribute to continued high-risk behaviours amongst the team in the perioperative setting. AIM: The aim of this project was to assess current compliance rates of staff in the use of PPE and to develop and implement an educational program to increase staff compliance in the perioperative setting of a large, private hospital (450 beds)...

This article is a summary of the "Updates on Malignant Hyperthermia" presentation given at the 2015 ORNAC National Conference in Edmonton. It presents the facts known about malignant hyperthermia (MH) including definition, anesthetic and non-anesthetic triggers for MH, signs and symptoms, and treatment of MH. It also discusses the care of an MH susceptible patient while undergoing an elective surgery.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The operating room can be home to many different types of nursing errors due to the invasiveness of OR procedures. The nurses' reactions towards errors can be a key factor in patient safety. This article is based on a study, with the aim of investigating nurses' reactions toward nursing errors and the various contributing and resulting factors, conducted at Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in Sanandaj, Iran in 2014. The goal of the study was to determine how OR nurses' reacted to nursing errors with the goal of having this information used to improve patient safety...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Although the playing of music is commonplace in the operating theatre, there is nothing in the literature examining whether staff feel this is beneficial. Questionnaires were distributed amongst a random selection of staff in practice at a district general hospital: medical staff from a range of surgical specialities, anaesthetists, and all grades of perioperative staff (nurse/operating department practitioners/healthcare assistants) were encouraged to participate. There were 121 health professionals in total working in the operating theatres...