This week, we're stepping outside the OR and into the world of Facilities, the department quietly powering everything from air and water to electricity, pressure, and environmental safety. Without them, surgeries simply don't happen.

Join us as we talk with seasoned facilities consultant Kathy Neal about how Facilities' teams keep the surgical environment safe, compliant, and running through power outages, HVAC challenges, regulatory demands, and even natural disasters. This conversation is a powerful reminder that collaboration across departments is what truly makes patient care possible.

Tune in to learn more about the team working behind the walls, above the ceilings, and beneath the floors.

#operatingroom #collaboration #surgery #ornurse #scrubtech

We might not be celebrating Perioperative Nurses Week this week, but we've always got time to shine a spotlight on perioperative nursing.

In this week's Articles On-The-Go, Lindsey Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR shares her own journey into perioperative nursing. From thinking the ICU was her forever home to finding unexpected inspiration in the operating room, this episode is a reminder that sometimes the path we don't plan is the one that fits us best.

Whether you took a traditional route, jumped straight into the OR, or are still figuring out where you belong, this one's for you. Come along with Lindsey and reflect on what sparked your own curiosity and why you chose the OR.

#operatingroom #ornurse #surgery #scrubtech

Have you ever wondered what really happens behind the 'black door' between the OR and pharmacy? 👀💊

In this week's First Case interview, we sit down with Zahara, an experienced inpatient pharmacist from San Diego, to uncover the unseen work that keeps surgical care safe and moving. From medication shortages and regulatory compliance to constant audits, refills, and real-time problem solving, Zahara shares how pharmacy and the OR intersect every single day, and why better communication can remove barriers and protect patients on both sides of the red line.

#operatingroom #ornurse #pharmacy #scrub #scrubtech

This week our Operation: Collaboration season continues with a deep dive into the often-unseen world of the Lab. In this episode, former laboratory associate supervisor turned OR nurse Anna Goodman bridges both sides of the specimen cup, breaking down cultures versus permanents, demystifying frozen sections, and explaining how real-time communication between the OR, pathology, and blood bank can directly shape surgical decisions and patient outcomes. From "deli slicer" histology humor to the critical role of accurate labeling and coordination, this conversation highlights just how intertwined every department is when it comes to delivering safe, timely care.

#operatingroom #ornurse #surgery #laboratory #scrubtech #nurse

Sterile processing doesn't run on magic, despite what we may sometimes think. In today's interview, we're joined by Angela Benson, a sterile processing education specialist, to talk about what really happens to our instruments long before they ever reach the back table.

From decontamination and assembly to sterilization, documentation, and case cart build, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the complex, detail-driven work that makes surgery possible. We also dive into common points of miscommunication, misconceptions about SPD, and how simple things, like better communication, pre-treatment, and mutual respect, can make a huge difference for teams on both sides of the red line.

#operatingroom #ornurse #sterileprocessing #scrubtech #surgery

Perfect imaging every time. No repairs. No reprocessing. Could single-use arthroscopes be the answer? On this special Beyond Clean, First Case, Power Supply, and Transmission Control Vendor Spotlight™ co-release episode, we're joined by Rich McKillop, CEO of Pristine Surgical, to explore how their Summit™ 4K Single-Use Arthroscope is redefining what efficiency looks like in the OR. Learn how this single-use solution delivers consistent 4K image clarity while eliminating the time, labor, and costs associated with scope reprocessing and repairs. Through smart, cloud-connected technology that delivers real-time data and case analytics, discover how Pristine Surgical can help your department optimize workflows, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes!

Learn more about Pristine Surgical's single-use arthroscopy solutions by visiting pristinesurgical.com. To access the cost savings calculator, schedule a demonstration, or learn more about Pristine Connect®, email info@pristinesurgical.com or follow them on LinkedIn.

Radiology is one of those departments that we rely on every single day in the OR, but don't always stop to think about how much coordination is required for our two departments to work together. In this second episode of Operation: Collaboration, we sit down with April Hughes, a radiologic technologist, to explore how radiology supports surgical care before, during, and after the procedure.

From juggling limited C-arms and tracking constantly changing schedules to the importance of real-time communication between departments, this conversation is a reminder that safe, efficient surgical care truly depends on teamwork beyond the red line. Tune in to learn more!

#operatingroom #ornurse #radiology #scrubtech #radtech #nurse #surgery

What does a canceled flight have in common with a canceled surgical case? More than you might think.

In today's article, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR shares a personal travel story that unexpectedly reframed how she thinks about case cancellations by seeing them through the patient's perspective. Through delays, rebookings, confusion, and loss of control, she draws a powerful parallel between airline disruptions and the very real emotional, financial, and logistical impact a canceled case can have on patients and their families.

This article is a timely reminder that while a cancellation may feel like a brief pause or even a coffee break for staff, it can be a major disruption for the patient. Clear communication, empathy, and transparency matter more than we sometimes realize.

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Articles On-the-Go presents perioperative insights from written articles in a creative, easy to listen, audio format. Think audio book, meets busy Operating Room professional!

#FirstCase #Podcast #OperatingRoom #Surgery #ArticlesOnTheGo #ornurse #scrubtech