This 60-minute webinar will feature Brenda C. Ulmer, RN, MN, CNOR, a Perioperative Nurse Educator. What is a Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)? Because of the popularity of television shows such as CSI, the public is shown how forensic evidence is used to solve crimes – mostly murders – in a scientific and systematic manner. Forensic evidence is routinely used in health care. It seems, therefore, reasonable, and potentially beneficial, to apply the same scientific methods to surgical and invasive procedures to establish the health of the environment – or lack thereof – in which healthcare professionals practice. In spite of ongoing efforts, there are those who still question the necessity of removing and filtering surgical smoke. This session will follow the scientific evidence that documents surgical smoke as a health hazard and make recommendations to assist perioperative personnel in the adoption and implementation of establishing a safe work environment for all health care professionals who practice in settings where operative and invasive procedures are performed.

About the Presenter: Brenda C. Ulmer, RN, MN, CNOR is a Perioperative Nurse Educator with expert knowledge of energy-based devices including fire safety and the hazards of surgical smoke. Additional experience includes accreditation and credentialing processes along with preparation and presentation of educational programs. Ulmer’s work history includes the Global Director, Professional Education for Covidien Energy-based Devices, Director of Surgical Services at Northlake Regional Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as staff and charge positions at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. A long term active member of AORN (Association of periOperative Registered Nurses) Ulmer served three terms on the national Board of Directors, and as national President 2000-2001. Since 1995 she has worked with AORN, OSHA, NIOSH, ANA, physicians and nurses to facilitate workplace safety guidelines from OSHA on smoke evacuation. Her current committee assignment is AORN representative to SAGES Fundamental Use of Energy in Surgery Committee (FUSE). Ms. Ulmer is an inaugural Board of Directors member on the International Council on Surgical Plume (ICSP), a non-profit organization dedicated to collaborative efforts focused on the evacuation and filtration of surgical plume. She is the Subject Matter Expert on AORN’s Go Clear Smoke Recognition Award, premiered at AORN Anaheim Conference in April 2016. At AORN Congress in 2006 Ms. Ulmer was awarded AORN’s highest honor, the Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing. From 1989 to 1994 Ulmer served on the Certification Board Perioperative Nursing, and as president 1990-91 and 1993-94. Ms. Ulmer has presented numerous programs on patient safety and nursing issues throughout the world. In 1983 she published the one of the first nursing text on ambulatory surgery: Ambulatory Surgery: A Guide to Perioperative Nursing Care. She is widely published in nursing journals and nursing texts, with contributions to 11 text books. She has authored Self Study Guides on Electrosurgery, Surgical Smoke: What We Know, MIS and Ultrasonics. Ms. Ulmer is co-editor of the text book published by CCI in 2009 entitled Competency for Safe Patient Care During Operative and Invasive Procedures.

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