HSPA

Workplace conflict and communication breakdown within and across healthcare departments is a common occurrence that must be managed promptly and properly. Allowing conflict to fester will erode trust, collaboration and job satisfaction and, above all, can contribute to negative outcomes that affect patient care. 

The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) has revised its Guideline for Sterilization Packaging Systems, which provides guidance for evaluating, selecting and using sterilization packaging systems, and packaging items to be sterilized for subsequent use in surgical and other invasive procedures. This article summarizes some of the significant changes regarding peel pouch use and package preparation. 

The guideline provides recommendation for sterilizing reusable medical devices for use in perioperative and procedural settings. The updated document reminds readers that sterility can be achieved with a variety of physical or chemical processes. The selection of the sterilization method depends on a number of factors, including device design, material, packaging, sterilant compatibility, load limitations, safety requirements, and organization-specific considerations.

Employee recruitment and retention rank high on the list of challenges sterile processing (SP) leaders routinely face. Aside from the challenging work environment, healthcare organizations that offer low pay and limited opportunity for advancement struggle even more.

The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) anticipates a fall release for its revised Guideline for Sterilization for electronic subscribers; the print version will be available in 2025. This guideline provides recommendation for sterilizing reusable medical devices for use in perioperative and procedural settings.

By Tony Thurmond, CRCST, CIS, CHL, FCS Sterile processing departments (SPDs) and operating rooms (ORs) are no strangers to the challenges of missing instruments. Such incidents can be attributed to numerous causes, both within the SPD and OR, and when the causes...