Nurses Deflect Medical Errors In Cardiac Operating Room

A study published in this month's edition of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses Journal found that circulating nurses prevented or corrected on average 11.11 medical errors related to cardiac surgical procedures. This research demonstrates the important role that nurses play in promoting high-quality care in the operating room, in addition to other areas of healthcare.

To read more about this study at Cardiovascularbusiness.com, click here.

To access the Abstract and Full-Text (subscription required) for this study, click here.

Mentoring Nursing Students: A New Approach For Transitioning Recent College Graduates Into The Work Place

Early this morning, Suzanne Hoholik detailed in The Columbus Dispatch how Ohio is one of three states to be involved in a pilot project that pairs new nurses to mentors in order to reduce high turnover rates and improve patient outcomes. This pilot project was implemented to counter the one in four (25%) of new nurses that leave their jobs within their first year of employment.

Click here to read the article.

The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Announces Legislative Priorities for 2011

Last week the AORN announced their legislative priorities for 2011. Included in these priorities was further expanding the scope of practice on RNs by necessitating a circulating role throughout every surgical procedure conducted in an operating room.

The AORN's legislative priorities expanded upon the reccomendations made by the Future of Nursing committee's report: "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health" and even cite the report itself in their press release.

Click here to read the press release.

Click here to find out more information about the Institute on the Future of Nursing.

Click here to find out more information about the AORN.

PA Governor Knows Nurses are Key to Patient Safety

This week, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell signed a bill into law to ensure patient safety in the OR. Rep. Mauree Gingrich, R-Lebanon, sponsored the bill which makes it mandatory for hospitals to have a circulating nurse present in surgeries requiring deep sedation or general anesthesia. Circulating nurses ensure that all OR equipment is available, clean and working properly. In addition, they are trained to look for signs of distress in sedated patients.

Click here to read the story on the ABC-27 website.