Cover Story

The volume of outpatient procedures performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) has risen drastically in recent years. Over the past three decades, the number of outpatient surgeries performed in ASCs has tripled to more than 54 million each year – nearly equaling the number of surgeries performed in traditional hospital settings.

It can be fun to look back at the history of various professions, especially perioperative nursing. A look back reveals how perioperative nursing emerged as the first recognized nursing specialization in the late 1800s and grew to become the highly specialized field that it is today.

Technology is making major inroads in practically every industry today, including healthcare. Technological advances in operating rooms and ambulatory surgery centers are especially exciting.

There are few environments where teamwork is more important than in the operating room. Each individual on the perioperative team has unique skill sets and clearly defined job roles, including the surgical technologist.

The nursing shortage in the U.S. has been well-documented. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects nearly 200,000 nurse openings annually through 2030, while one million nurses are projected to retire by this date.

Most nurses and healthcare workers enter the field because they want to reduce patient suffering and help patients heal. So, it’s ironic that nurses themselves can sometimes be the ones who need protection from harm.