Managing Surgical Risk: From Infection Control to Staff Well-Being
New technology tools are lowering the risk of surgical complications. These include robotic surgical systems, real-time imaging, intraoperative image guidance, smart OR analytics, augmented reality, machine learning, and artificial and ambient intelligence.
Spotlight On: Kim Tuemler, JD, BSN, RN, CNOR
There are a lot of different paths than can lead someone into the perioperative nursing field. But it’s probably safe to say that very few nurses have followed the path taken by Kim Tuemler.
A Morning Favorite Made Fresh
It’s often true that the best warm-weather meals, from filling breakfasts to flavorful dinners, are made with the freshest ingredients.
Temperature Management Market Expands as Surgical Demand Drives Growth
The global patient temperature management market is experiencing steady expansion as healthcare providers place greater emphasis on maintaining normothermia before, during and after surgical procedures.
NEWS
AI-Powered Nerve Monitoring Systems Poised to Transform Surgical Safety
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the nerve monitoring systems landscape, with medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers rapidly adopting AI-driven solutions to address critical workforce shortages and enhance surgical safety protocols....
Northern Montana Health Care Breaks Ground on OR & ICU Project
Northern Montana Health Care (NMHC) recently marked a milestone with the groundbreaking of a major expansion project at Northern Montana Hospital in March. This investment reflects a continued commitment to advancing healthcare for Havre and communities across the...
Tips to Help Charge Medical Devices Safely and Avoid Overheating
Only charge your medical devices with the charging accessories (for example, cables, chargers, and adaptors) provided by the manufacturer.
Reflow Medical Launches Next-Generation Torqueable Microcatheters
Reflow Medical Inc., a developer of medical devices focused on complex cardiovascular disease, has announced the U.S. market launch of its next-generation Cora Flex and Cora Force Torqueable Microcatheters, now commercially available. Designed for complex coronary...
Bridge Plus Occlusion Balloon Helps ManageLife-Threatening SVC Tears
Royal Philips has launched the next-generation Bridge Plus Occlusion Balloon, designed to help electrophysiology teams rapidly control bleeding and stabilize patients during rare but life-threatening superior vena cava (SVC) tears in transvenous lead extraction (TLE)...
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Two Challenging Infection Prevention Standards (And How to Get Ahead of Them)
Accreditation surveys exist to strengthen organizations, not to catch them off guard. When ACHC surveyors identify areas for improvement, those findings become a roadmap for elevating patient safety and operational excellence.
Guide to AORN Expo 2026: Conference Provides Evidence-Based Education & Hands-On Learning
The 2026 AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo returns April 11-14 in New Orleans, bringing together perioperative nurses at every career stage for immersive education, professional connection and practice-shaping dialogue.
From Circulator to Coach, Building Leadership Through CCI Volunteerism
As National Volunteer Week (April 19-25) approaches, perioperative nurses nationwide are taking time to elevate their profession through service. For many, volunteering with the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) is more than giving back – it’s a strategic path to developing leadership skills that support career growth and strengthen patient care (Journal of Applied Psychology).
My, How Things Have Changed
I recently reviewed a number of articles on the evolution of Ambulatory Surgery including the recent thought-provoking article, “The ASC Surge”, in the Winter 2026 issue of OR Today.1 These articles prompted some reflection on the evolution of ambulatory surgery. When I began working in perioperative nursing in the mid-1980s our total joint cases, whether knees or hips, had a lengthy inpatient hospital stay. In comparison, total knee arthroplasties are now routinely scheduled as outpatient procedures for healthy patients and outpatient hip replacements are possible for some patients.
ASCQC Provides Valuable Tools to ASCs
The ASC Quality Collaboration (ASCQC) brings together leaders from across the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) community – such as associations like the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), accrediting organizations, management companies and state associations – to advance patient safety and quality of care in surgery centers.
SPOTLIGHT
Spotlight On: Kim Tuemler, JD, BSN, RN, CNOR
There are a lot of different paths than can lead someone into the perioperative nursing field. But it’s probably safe to say that very few nurses have followed the path taken by Kim Tuemler.
Spotlight On: Colleen Becker Ph.D., MSN, RN, CCRN
When Colleen Becker was offered the opportunity to work as the Director of Perioperative Education for the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) in 2021, this fulfilled a passion for surgical education that had grown throughout her four-decade nursing career.
Spotlight on: Travis Tingle
Travis Tingle’s journey into perioperative nursing was inspired by his grandfather, who was a medic in World War II. “My grandfather was very influential in my upbringing,” Travis says. “I heard lots of stories growing up about his experience as a World War II medic so I knew I wanted a career in medicine.”
Spotlight On: Jamie Ridout, CNOR, NEA-BC, CASC
It’s funny how a chance encounter can alter the course of one’s life. After she graduated with her BSN from the West Virginia School of Nursing in 1993, Jamie Ridout was sitting with some fellow graduates at the Sigma Theta Tau induction ceremony. A woman she didn’t know asked Jamie if she could sit down next to her.
Spotlight On: Joanne Oliver-Coleman, MBA-HM, BSN, RN, CNOR-E
Joanne first became a registered nurse in 1962 after graduating from the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing. “There was a six-week tour through the operating room and that’s when I decided that perioperative nursing is what I really wanted to do,” she says.
PRODUCT SHOWROOM
Temperature Management Market Expands as Surgical Demand Drives Growth
The global patient temperature management market is experiencing steady expansion as healthcare providers place greater emphasis on maintaining normothermia before, during and after surgical procedures. Increasing surgical volumes, advances in medical technology and...
ZOLL IQool Advanced Surface System
The IQool Advanced Surface System manages and maintains patient temperature for warming or cooling applications or to maintain normothermia. Designed with intelligence to accurately and rapidly reach target temperature, the IQool System offers 3 separate zones of...
Solventum 3M Bair Hugger Temperature Management Solutions
Temperature management is an essential part of patient care. If you’re not monitoring the body’s core temperature continuously and managing it consistently, you could be putting patients at risk for unintended perioperative hypothermia. However, this complication can...
Augustine Surgical Inc. HotDog Patient Warming System
The established efficiency of the HotDog Patient Warming System is now enhanced by the Warming Mattress + Return Electrode. This integrated system combines electrosurgical grounding with premier underbody warming, promoting intraoperative safety and simplicity. The...
C Change Surgical SurgiSLUSH
SurgiSLUSH fully automated, set and forget freezers with sealed, portable containers keep sterile slush safely protected until dispensed for use, rather than exposed to ambient for hours. Fully automated freezers with sealed, portable containers enable multi-room,...
Encompass Thermoflect products
In today’s demanding surgical landscape, healthcare teams need every tool working in their favor. Maintaining normothermia is not only a clinical priority – it’s a critical strategy in reducing the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs). That’s...
OR Today Spring 2026
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OUT OF THE OR
A Morning Favorite Made Fresh
It’s often true that the best warm-weather meals, from filling breakfasts to flavorful dinners, are made with the freshest ingredients.
Walk More to Stress Less: Get Moving to Improve Well-Being
Research continues to show physical activity, like walking, reduces stress, boosts mood and promotes overall well-being.
Why Simple Daily Habits Matter
Small, repeatable choices around sleep, exercise, nutrition, mental well-being and social connection can support how the body and mind function over time.
Busy Families Can Balance Time, Taste & Nutrition
With snackers increasingly mindful about what they put in their bodies, you’re not alone if you’re looking for a snacking shakeup
Savvy Weeknight Family Meal
Because this time of year can be crazy busy, drive-thru meals can easily become the norm. While fast-food burgers may do the trick once in a while, they can get old quick if your family is eating them every other night. This quick and easy Baked Spaghetti can bring everybody back to the table and it won’t break the bank either.
One Type of Hidden Fat May Signal Greater Brain Risk
The effect of obesity on brain health may depend not only on how much fat is in the body, but also on the areas of the body where fat is stored, according to a study published in Radiology, the flagship journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Go Beyond the Six-Pack Workout
When looking to strengthen one’s core, it is wise to go beyond the six-pack or flat abs image. A six-pack is the result of building a strong core. When it comes to fitness, the core deserves much more attention. The core is the foundation for all other movements.
Fiber’s Cultural Moment Exposes America’s Whole Grain Problem
Fiber may be having a cultural moment, but most Americans still aren’t getting enough of it – or fully understanding where it comes from. A new IFIC Spotlight Survey: Americans’ Perceptions of Fiber & Whole Grains finds that two-thirds of Americans say they either fall short on fiber or don’t know how much they consume, even as “fibermaxxing” trends across TikTok and Instagram, and experts forecast fiber as the “new protein.”
Fixing the Invisible Crisis
Here’s something I’ve observed countless times. The most reliable person on a team carries way more weight than anyone realizes and eventually burns out. But nobody notices until it’s too late.
