New Leader Toolkit

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July 2025
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Managing challenging employees: When to let go

TAKEAWAYS • HR should be involved early in the disciplinary process to help guide OR leaders’ decision-making throughout disciplinary and/or remediatoin processes. • Timing, privacy, opportunities for employee feedback, and an empathetic approach are among the most important considerations for a final termination meeting. • Whatever the process for communicating…

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By: Cynthia Saver, MS, RN
April 19, 2024
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Managing challenging employees: How to help

TAKEAWAYS • Addressing an employee with a competency or behavior issue is important for the well-being of staff and managers. • Determining the reason for the issue is an important first step to resolving it. • Sources of support for managers include colleagues, human resources, and educators. In today’s perioperative…

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By: Cynthia Saver, MS, RN
April 19, 2024
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Why OR leaders should revisit sterile processing basics

Sterile Processing Department (SPD) managers and technicians know a thing or two about pressure. In a recent webinar covering sterile processing basics, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, president and CEO of Ofstead & Associates, Inc, and Abby Smart, MPH, research associate, cited the example of a 480-bed hospital that performed 13,650…

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By: Uyen Vo, BSN, MBA
February 27, 2024
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Meeting the SPD staffing challenge

Takeaways • Failure to understand the complexity of the work performed in the sterile processing department (SPD) can lead to staff shortages, errors, and significant financial loss. • Strategies for addressing SPD staffing include effective orientation, certification, competency assessment, analyzing staffing needs, and leader visibility. • SPD schedules should reflect…

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By: Cynthia Saver, MS, RN
December 20, 2023
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Sponsored Message

Optimizing productivity measurement in the ASC

Takeaways Clinical hours per case is a simple, yet effective, productivity metric. Analysis of productivity measures can include benchmarking against external and internal data. A positive work culture will improve staff productivity. Productivity is a foundational concept for leaders of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). “Measuring productivity is essential to be…

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By: Cynthia Saver, MS, RN
November 15, 2023
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Nurse leader key to ASC success

In the May issue of OR Manager, an article from us at the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) covered the definition of the nurse leader in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) space, and what that role may look like depending upon the structural organization of the ASC. We covered that…

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By: Marian McCann Kleinman, MBA, BSN, RN, CASC(E), CNOR(E), CSSM
August 21, 2023
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Sponsored Message

Buddies help new leaders in a new world

Takeaways • This buddy program works for all levels of an organization and for anyone who is starting to do something new in a leadership role. • New leaders often feel like they are being “thrown into the deep end,” and having buddies can help them feel safe. • The…

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By: Judith M. Mathias, MA, BS, RN
May 23, 2023
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ASC nurse leaders can wear many hats

The role of a nurse leader in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) can take many forms depending on the ASC’s size, structure, and governing environment. Larger ASCs can support a number of leaders and roles. Factors that influence this number are whether the ASC is part of a network, the…

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By: Marian McCann Kleinman, MBA, BSN, RN, CASC(E), CNOR(E), CSSM
April 24, 2023
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A day in the life in SPD

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are continuing to perform more and more surgical procedures. According to Fortune Business Insights, ASCs can expect to see even greater case volumes as the number of outpatient procedures is estimated to increase by 15% by 2028. With an increase in procedures, it is essential that…

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By: Erica Smith, MBA
April 24, 2023
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From buddy to boss: Path from SPD peer to SPD leader  

Congratulations. You have worked hard to master your skills in the sterile processing department (SPD). You have prepared, been interviewed, and finally been promoted to a leadership position. Now, what? Yesterday you were working as a peer in your department, and now you are the leader. Are you prepared for…

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By: W. Zeh Wellington, DNP, RN, NE-BC, and Cherie Dominguez, CSPDT
March 17, 2023
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