Introduction to the 2013 Edition

1

AORN Mission, Vision, and Values

2

SECTION I

STANDARDS OF PERIOPERATIVE NURSING PRACTICE

3

SECTION II

RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR PERIOPERATIVE NURSING

43

Introduction to the AORN Recommended Practices

43

Recommended Practices for: Aseptic Practice

Attire, Surgical

51

Hand Hygiene

63

Preoperative Patient Skin Antisepsis

75

Sterile Technique*

91

Traffic Patterns

121

Equipment and Product Safety

Electrosurgery*

125

Laser Safety

143

Minimally Invasive Surgery*

57

Pneumatic Tourniquet

185

Product Selection

197

Surgical Tissue Banking

205

Patient and Worker Safety

Environment of Care*

217

Environmental Cleaning

243

Medication Safety

255

Reducing Radiological Exposure

295

Retained Surgical Items—Prevention of

305

Specimen Care and Handling

323

Transmissible Infections—Prevention of*

331

Patient Care

Deep Vein Thrombosis—Prevention of

365

Hypothermia—Prevention of

375

Information Management

387

Local Anesthesia—Managing the Patient Receiving

409

Moderate Sedation/Analgesia—Managing the Patient Receiving

415

Positioning the Patient

425

Transfer of Patient Care Information

445

Sterilization and Disinfection

Anesthesia Equipment—Cleaning, Handling, and Processing

451

Disinfection—High-Level

459

Flexible Endoscopes—Cleaning and Processing

473

Instruments and Powered Equipment—Cleaning and Care of

485

Packaging Systems—Selection and Use

505

Sterilization*

513

SECTION III

GUIDANCE STATEMENTS

Health Care Industry Representative—Role of the

541

Perioperative Staffing

543

Safe On-Call Practices

549

Safe Patient Handling and Movement

553

Sharps Injury Prevention

573

SECTION IV

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Appendix A

Listing of AORN Position Statements

579

Appendix B

Policy and Procedure Templates for Use with Recommended Practices*

581

Appendix C

AACD Glossary of Procedural Times

595

Appendix D

Quality and Performance Improvement Standards

601

Index

611