OR Manager March 2022 - 28

AMBULATORY
SURGERY CENTERS
Continued from page 27
instruments, it is advised to monitor
and document the temperature of the
solution. If using mechanical cleaning
for instruments, follow the manufacturers'
IFU on how to load, run, and unload
instruments. Failure to comply can
cause improper cleaning, thus leading
to soil remaining on the instruments.
If any soil is on the instruments, they
will not be able to be sterilized. Proper
testing, monitoring, and documenting of
the cycles must be completed to ensure
cleaning was done correctly.
Properly package and label
instruments
Depending on the type of autoclave a
facility uses, it is imperative to use the
proper packaging for each type of autoclave.
The packaging must be compatible
with the type of sterilizer being
used in a central sterile environment.
Using the wrong packaging could cause
improper sterilization or mechanical malfunctions
that can place the staff in
harm's way. If there is a malfunction
with the autoclave, an ASC will know
which instruments to pull from rotation
because of labeling. According to
AORN's 2021 guidelines, when labeling
the packages, information should include
identification of the sterilizer, type
of sterilizer and cycle used, load control
number, a critical parameter for the specific
sterilization method, and other elements
that can identify items if there is
an autoclave malfunction or failure.
Items placed in the packaging should
not exceed 25 pounds. It has been exhibited
that packages that exceed that
weight have difficulty drying, unless the
facility uses longer drying times. When
wrapping, ensure packages are secure,
allowing room for the sterilization process.
According to the Association for
the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation,
there are two acceptable wrapping
methods: sequential double-wrapping
and simultaneous double-wrapping.
The diagonal fold is recommended when
wrapping individual small to medium
instrument trays, and the square fold
is recommended when wrapping large
instrument trays.
Place appropriate chemical
indicators in packages
There are six main types of chemical
indicators, called types 1 through 6.
Every package must have an indicator
both outside and inside. The type 1 indicator
should be placed on the outside.
This shows that the autoclave reached
temperature. Type 5 or type 6 indicaOCTOBER
17-19, 2022 | GAYLORD ROCKIES | DENVER, CO
Call for OR Managers to Interview
Attention OR managers! Dr Rose O. Sherman, who will hold her keynote presentation,
Leading A Very Different Perioperative Nursing Workforce, at the OR Manager
Conference in Denver, in October 2022, needs your input.
To ensure that Dr. Sherman has the most up-to-date information on perioperative
workforce trends, she needs to interview frontline OR Managers. The telephone or
Zoom interview will take about 30 minutes and be scheduled at your convenience.
Her questions will include the following:
* What are your most significant leadership challenges right now?
* What trends are you seeing with your perioperative nursing workforce, and
what has the impact been on OR scheduling?
* Are you hiring new graduates to work in the perioperative area, and what has
your experience been with onboarding and retention?
* Has turnover increased in 2022 with your perioperative workforce?
* Are you using travel contracts to fill your core vacancies and your experience
with travel OR nurses?
This is a great opportunity for the OR manager community to be heard! If you would like to participate
in this important pre-conference project, contact Dr. Sherman at roseosherman@outlook.com.
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OR Manager | March 2022
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OR Manager March 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of OR Manager March 2022