Editor's Note What a week it was! The 2025 OR Manager Conference just wrapped up at the Anaheim Convention Center, and perioperative leaders are already talking about what is next. Mark your calendars—the 2026 OR Manager Conference is heading to Savannah, Georgia, at the Savannah Convention Center on October 5–7,…
Effective communication is the foundation of patient safety in the modern surgical environment. Most surgical procedures depend on seamless collaboration among surgeons, nurses, surgical technologists, and anesthesiologists, and when communication breaks down, patient risk rises sharply. In 2024, the American College of Surgeons reported standardized surgical handoffs improved adherence to…
Editor's Note Rebuilding trust and redefining teamwork between the OR and sterile processing department (SPD) turned a near-failure into a high-functioning system at UCLA Health, according to Ronald Perez, JD, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR, executive director of perioperative services, and Jasmine Briones, MSN, RN, CNOR, director of perioperative services. What…
Editor's Note Lead your OR like a samurai—anchor the team in purpose, practice servant leadership, and model the behavior you expect. That was the through line of this session, led by Brian Dawson, MSN, RN-BC, CNOR, CAPT, NC, USN (Ret), president and CEO of BD Perioperative Healthcare Consulting. He argued…
Stress and burnout are more than workforce concerns; they are patient safety issues. Research shows a clear correlation between healthcare provider stress and medical errors. For instance, Zabin et al, a 2023 systematic review, confirmed that job stress negatively influences patient safety culture. Garcia & Abreu et al, a separate…
The OR has a planned rhythm that relies on training, checklists, and teamwork to turn the complex surgical environment into an elegant orchestration that keeps patients safe. But efficiency and a climate of safety do not just happen—they depend on culture. When teams communicate openly, follow standards consistently, and feel…
Know the law. It could save your patients’ lives and your staff members’ practices. This is the advice of several medical legal experts to OR leaders to prevent lapses in patient protections that risk injury or even death. Beyond ensuring safe surgery and preventing litigation, perioperative nursing experts who advance…
Editor's Note Travel nurses and permanent staff nurses share similar perceptions of their work environments and ethical workplace climates, according to a study published in the Journal of Nursing Administration. The results challenge common assumptions about differences between these two groups and emphasize the need for nurse leaders to facilitate…
In July 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed sweeping changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for calendar year 2026. Among the most impactful updates is the launch of the Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM)—a mandatory value-based payment program focused on heart failure and low back pain.…
Editor's Note A recent article from Cleveland Clinic details the use of confidential staff forums to address barriers to escalating patient care concerns, resulting in greater caregiver engagement and targeted improvements. Published July 25, the article describes how nursing leaders collaborated with the Cleveland Clinic Alliance for Patient and Caregiver…