Clinical Issues-December 2020.

Evidence-rating schemes Key words: evidence-rating scheme, level of evidence, evidence-based guidelines, quality. Surgical patients with cardiac implanted electronic devices Key words: pacemaker, cardiac implanted electronic device (CIED), magnet, monopolar electrosurgery. Preoperative to intraoperative hand-over process Key words: hand over, hand-over process, hand-over report, preoperative assessment, patient-specific information.

Clinical Issues.

Patient jewelry removal before a procedure Key words: jewelry, piercing, monopolar electrosurgery, dispersive electrode, dermal implants. Ankle monitoring devices in the OR Key words: ankle monitor, monopolar electrosurgery, law enforcement, dispersive electrode. Location parameters for automated endoscope reprocessors Key words: endoscope, automated endoscope reprocessor (AER), sterile processing department (SPD), decontamination.

Guideline Implementation: Positioning the Patient.

Every surgical procedure requires positioning the patient; however, all surgical positions are associated with the potential for the patient to experience a positioning injury. The locations and types of potential injuries (eg, stretching, compression, pressure injury) depend on the position. Factors that may increase the patient's risk for an injury are the length of the procedure and risk factors inherent to the patient (eg, weight, age, frailty).

Guideline Implementation: Energy-Generating Devices, Part 2-Lasers.

Lasers have been used in the OR for many years and are essential tools in many different types of procedures. However, laser beams that come into contact with unintended targets directly or via reflection can cause injury to patients or personnel or pose other hazards, such as fires. The new AORN "Guideline for safe use of energy-generating devices" provides guidance on the use of all energy-generating devices in the OR.

Clinical Issues-January 2017.

Jewelry removal when using electrosurgical devices Key words: electrosurgery, monopolar electrosurgery, jewelry, body piercing. Use of electrosurgery when a cardiac implanted device is present Key words: electrosurgery, monopolar electrosurgery, bipolar electrosurgery, implanted electronic device, cardiac implanted electronic device. Staffing when a laser is used Key words: laser, laser operator, laser nurse, laser assistant, laser user.

Clinical Issues-July 2016.

Wearing ring dosimeters Key words: dosimeter, ring dosimeters, finger dosimeters. Reporting a retained surgical item (RSI) Key words: reportable event, retained surgical item, RSI, retained foreign object, counts. Definition of an implant Key words: implant, implant documentation.

Clinical Issues-November 2015.

Unique device identifier Key words: unique device identifier, UDI, FDA UDI. Wearing a dosimeter Key words: dosimeter, radiation monitoring device.

Prophylactic treatment for DVT: What's your role?

Nursing's responsibilities while caring for patients having the potential of developing DVT include risk factor assessment and implementation of the prescribed prophylactic treatment started on admission and based on present risk factors and current research.

Prophylactic treatment for DVT: what's your role?

Nursing's responsibilities while caring for patients having the potential of developing DVT include risk factor assessment and implementation of the prescribed prophylactic treatment started on admission and based on present risk factors and current research.

On call: alert or unsafe? A report of the AORN on-call electronic task force.

Research has linked health care providers' long work hours with patient care errors. Perioperative staff members often work extended hours because of long shifts and being on call. AORN's on-call electronic task force conducted a survey of nurses to determine their work load, call scheduling, and experiences related to fatigue.