its evacuation from the OR. Only one state, Rhode Island, has passed
a state law mandating smoke evacuation. Hospitals have been using
an electric current to cut and coagulate tissue during surgery for more
than 40 years. It's a lot faster than scalpel and suture, but burning all
of that tissue produces a lot of smoke.
'We had to convince our surgeons'
7 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8
The tighter the wheel on your
welcome wagon, the more your
new nurses will feel part of a
friendly and safe environment,
says Houston (Texas)
Physicians' Hospital's surgical
nursing task force, whose
"Welcome to the Team" orienta-
tion makes new staff members
feel safe and secure from day 1.
• Lighter lead aprons. They
replaced the heavy lead aprons nurses wore, many for an entire
8-hour shift, with lighter ones that are "prettier and easier to
wipe down after use," says Karen Acosta, MSN, RN, CNOR, the
director of surgical services.
• Personalized locker. When a new nurse comes to work on her
first day, she'll find a locker with her name proudly displayed on it.
Her name is also written in bold letters on a whiteboard.
"They feel successful from the first day they are with us," says
Ms. Acosta. "Our staff play a big part in making newcomers feel
safe and secure." — Jeannette Sabatini
Getting New Staff Off to a Safe Start
• LIGHTEN UP The nurses at Houston Physicians' Hospital
are happy to wear their new lead aprons.
Karen
Acosta,
MSN,
RN,
CNOR
