AORN

Join us for Every Stitch Matters: Optimizing Suture Selection to Reduce SSI Risks
June 24 | 1-2pm ET | 1 CE

Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain one of the most common hospital-acquired infections. Preventing them requires consistent, evidence-based decisions right through to closure.

In this webinar, you’ll learn how to:
• Strengthen your SSI prevention approach with proven bundles
• Apply evidence-based suture selection
• Understand the clinical and economic impact of closure decisions
• Align practice with global health recommendations

Suture selection is a crucial decision in optimization of patient outcomes for every case. This webinar helps you close every case with consistency and confidence.

Register now → https://bit.ly/48WqN9S

Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson MedTech

Research Funding Opportunity!

The AORN Foundation is offering a new research grant opportunity for anyone involved in or thinking about getting into clinical research!

These grants support projects that:

• Align with AORN research priorities
• Demonstrate strong scientific rigor
• Advance evidence-based perioperative care

Apply between June 1 – July 31

If you’re passionate about advancing perioperative nursing practice and making a real impact through research, this is a great opportunity to check out!

Learn more, including eligibility and how to apply: https://bit.ly/41EJ5Gy

Feel free to share with others who might be interested!

Empower your workflow with Stryker’s SurgiCount+ and its integrated Triton. https://bit.ly/4nRMfTt

We’re proud to share that AORN CEO and Executive Director David Wyatt has been named one of the “145 Patient Safety Experts to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review.

Here’s what Becker’s said about Dr. Wyatt:

“Dr. Wyatt assumed the role of CEO and executive director of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses in February 2025, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience in surgical services and healthcare management to the position. He joined the organization from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where he served as CNO, overseeing the operational and clinical leadership of inpatient, procedural and hospital-based ambulatory departments and a staff of 3,000. Previously, he served as vice president of perioperative enterprise at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., responsible for the operational and strategic leadership of perioperative services across multiple locations and surgical care settings.

Dr. Wyatt has been an AORN member for more than 25 years, served two terms on its board of directors from 2008 to 2012, and was elected president for the 2020-2021 term, overseeing the organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has contributed to AORN task forces and committees addressing the nursing shortage, nursing leadership, strategic governance and the formation of AORN Syntegrity.

A fellow of both the American Academy of Nursing and AORN, Dr. Wyatt’s career spans clinical nursing, executive management and academia.”

Becker’s Healthcare developed the list based on nominations and editorial research.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Wyatt on this well-deserved recognition!

It’s hard to believe, but we’re less than two weeks away from National Time Out Day on June 10.

For over two decades, perioperative nurses have championed the Time Out—a critical pause before every procedure to confirm the correct patient, correct site, and the correct surgery.

This life-saving protocol empowers nurses to speak up and fosters a culture of safety in the OR.

How Time Outs make a difference in the OR:
✔️ Prevent surgical errors through a standardized, team-wide pause
✔️ Empower nurses to raise concerns when something doesn’t feel right
✔️ Strengthen communication among surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and techs
✔️ Raise awareness of the nurse’s role in safeguarding every patient

Want to help advocate for safe surgery? Help make your voice heard by sharing why the Time Out matters and why creating a culture where people feel comfortable speaking up is so important.

Contact your legislators:
https://www.votervoice.net/AORN/Campaigns/137171/Respond

Or send a letter to the editor of your local paper:
https://www.aorn.org/docs/default-source/events/time-out/Letter-to-Editor-Template-051926

Download a poster and cake toppers, access evidence-based research, and more at the link in the comments section.

Special thanks to Ansell proud sponsor of AORN's National Time Out Day.

We can’t fix what we can’t see. That is why AORN recommends making borescope inspections a routine part of the instrument evaluation process.

Complex surgical instruments often hide soil, debris, and damage deep within their lumens—far beyond what external visual inspection can detect. Even when teams follow IFUs, contamination can remain trapped.

A 2024 quality improvement study inspecting 40 complex instruments found:
• 100% contained visible debris or defects after standard cleaning and sterilization
• 73% had fibrous material such as lint or brush bristles
• 95% showed discoloration or rust like patches
• 100% contained particulate debris

To learn more about instrument cleaning, explore this month’s Guidelines in Practice in the AORN Journal. Contact hours are available to members with this article.
https://aornjournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aorn.70076

Congratulations to Maryland on going surgical smoke-free.💨

On Tuesday, May 26, Maryland Governor Moore signed HB 1087 into law, making Maryland the 21st state to enact legislation to protect operating room staff and patients from surgical smoke.

The new law goes into effect on January 1, 2028, and requires each health care facility performing surgical procedures to adopt and implement policies that require the use of a smoke evacuation system during a surgical procedure that may generate surgical smoke.

Thank you to the advocates in Maryland who pushed for this important legislation and congratulations again!

Kratom is showing up in the perioperative setting—and it matters more than many teams realize.

What’s often labeled a “natural supplement” can significantly complicate surgical care, including:
▪️ Unpredictable hemodynamic changes
▪️ Altered anesthetic requirements
▪️ Risk of withdrawal
▪️ Coordination challenges across the perioperative continuum

One of the biggest risks? Patients rarely disclose supplement use unless specifically asked.

That’s why the preoperative assessment plays a key role. Early identification allows teams to plan ahead, adjust anesthetic strategies, and involve specialty support when needed.

This AORN Journal article explores kratom as an emerging perioperative nursing concern—and offers continuing education (CE) credits for those who read and complete the activity.

🔗 Read the article and earn CE:
https://aornjournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aorn.70077

Perioperative nurses on the other side of the world heard from AORN Board of Directors Vice-President, J.D. Buchert, MSN, M.Ed., MS, RN, CNOR, CPHQ, who a gave a presentation on Bullying and Incivility last weekend at the ACORN 2026 International Conference. The 20th biennial event was hosted by the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses, in Brisbane, Australia. He was joined by other AORN members from both Australia and the U.S.

Celebrating 35 Years of Impact

For 35 years, the AORN Foundation has advanced perioperative nursing—supporting scholarships, education, and leadership development for periop nurses nationwide.

Now, we’re inviting you to be part of what comes next by joining the Periop Giving Circle.

For $35 a month (just $1.15 a day), you can help empower the next generation of perioperative nurses and sustain the programs that keep our profession strong.

As a Periop Giving Circle member, you’ll receive meaningful recognition and exclusive benefits designed to celebrate your generosity and connection to the AORN Foundation.

Learn more about the campaign, member benefits, how your support makes an impact and joining the circle visit: https://bit.ly/48k71om

Your commitment creates real, lasting change and together, we can shape the future of perioperative nursing for years to come.

Foundation