Tips for a healthy operating room workspace
By Jonathan Bilyk W
hile the modern operating room is sure to rank as one of the most sterile
environments, the following tips for a healthy OR workspace may help mitigate some of its health hazards.
The Association of periOperative
Registered Nurses, and two of the organization’s perioperative nursing experts — Perioperative Education Specialist Ellice Mellinger, MS, BSN, RN, CNOR, and Senior Perioperative Practice Specialist Mary J. Ogg, MSN, RN, CNOR — weigh in on what perioperative nurses can do to help make their workplaces as healthy as possible for surgical patients and the healthcare professionals who work there.
QUIT SMOKING As the use of lasers and electrosurgery devices in both laparoscopic and open surgeries has expanded in recent decades across the spectrum of surgical specialties, surgical smoke has emerged as a new danger in the OR. In recent years, the removal of this surgical smoke has become a major point of
emphasis for organizations like AORN, Ogg said. She noted an oft-cited research sta- tistic, which indicates “using an electrosurgery device on one gram of tissue is akin to inhaling the smoke of six unfi ltered cigarettes in 15 minutes.” T e result of these high-energy cutting tools are plumes of surgical smoke, which
may contain microscopic bits of tissue, blood, carbon monoxide and other toxic gases, and potentially even live viruses or bacteria. T is smoke travels at a high rate of speed, which makes dealing with it very important. To raise awareness among perioperative nurses of the need to mitigate surgical smoke,
AORN created its Go Clear program. AORN recommends several steps for dealing with the smoke, including using smoke evacuator devices, with the hose placed within 2 inches of the surgical site; replacing evacuation tubing for each procedure; and wearing personal protective respiratory equipment that goes beyond surgical masks, such as a surgical N95 particulate fi ltering facepiece respirator. If you can smell the smoke, you are being exposed, Ogg said.
KEEP IT CLEAN Eff ective cleaning procedures in the perioperative environment are essential to promote safety and decrease the risk of the spread of infection for surgical patients and team members, according to the AORN Environmental Cleaning Tool Kit. AORN calls for the creation of a multidisciplinary team, including perioperative
nurses and others involved in maintaining the OR, to establish cleaning procedures and frequencies in the perioperative setting. Of importance, according to Mellinger, are using specifi c cleaners and disinfectants on the proper surfaces, determining high- touch areas that may need to be cleaned after each procedure, and establishing when more advanced cleaning procedures are required. AORN also now states perioperative nurses should treat anything that touches the
Ellice Mellinger, RN Mary J. Ogg, RN
fl oor as if it were contaminated. No matter how long it has been in contact, any item that touches the fl oor should be disinfected before patient use, according to AORN.
TIPS 40 Visit us at
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BRUSH UP To keep nurses up to date and knowledgeable on best recommended practices, AORN and other organizations offer their members educational materials, including tool kits, posters and webinars. Perioperative nurses can brush up on such concepts as proper ergonomic techniques for lifting and moving patients, fire safety, emergency preparedness, perioperative efficiency and patient engagement. •
to improve OR workspace
Jonathan Bilyk is a freelance writer. FOR MORE, VISIT
Nurse.com/Articles/Healthy-OR-workspace
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