First Case
Clock in, scrub up, and join us behind the red line. We are First Case – an operating room podcast bringing you exciting interviews, engaging discussions, and innovative solutions that are changing the way patients receive surgical care. Each episode we talk to frontline staff, perioperative leadership, and nursing entrepreneurs from across the country as they share their stories, experience and expertise on an industry we love.
From the back table to the board room, from wheels in to wheels out. — we tackle the real-life issues affecting the OR. Whether you’re tuning in for surgical service education or inspiration, we’re glad you’re here. And now, it’s time to roll back, and start the First Case…
Episodes
Sterile Processing 101: Point of Use Treatment – The OR’s Role in Sterile Processing
What happens to your instruments during the case matters more than you think.
In this interview with Mike Matthews, we break down point-of-use treatment and why sterile processing actually starts in the OR, not decontam.
From biofilm risk to instrument damage, this episode highlights how small actions during a case have big downstream consequences.
This episode challenges the “not my problem” mindset and reinforces a critical truth: 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁-𝗼𝗳-𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 – 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹.
#operatingroom #ornurse #sterileprocessing #scrubtech
Sterile Processing 101: From Dirty to Sterile – The Instrument Reprocessing Lifecycle
Welcome to a new season of the First Case podcast – Sterile Processing 101! We’re kicking off the season with a conversation that sets the foundation for the entire series and challenges a big misconception:
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗺… 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗥.
In this conversation with Jen Parrott, we introduce the full instrument reprocessing lifecycle and explore why understanding this process is essential for every OR nurse, and how it affects everything from patient safety to workflow efficiency.
Tune in to the premiere and start seeing the bigger picture!
#operatingroom #ornurse #scrubtech #podcast #sterileprocessing
Top 10: General Surgery
General surgery is where many perioperative nurses begin their OR journey. It’s one of the most diverse and foundational specialties in the operating room, touching everything from colorectal and thyroid cases to breast, abdominal, and head & neck procedures.
In this First Case Articles-On-The-Go, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR breaks down the Top 10 things OR teams should know about general surgery – from being ready to convert laparoscopic cases to open, to understanding patient positioning, implants, ERAS protocols, hemostatic agents, and proper drain management.
Whether you’re new to the OR or just need a refresher, this episode highlights why versatility, preparation, and attention to detail are essential in one of surgery’s broadest specialties.
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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!
#operatingroom #generalsurgery #ornurse #nurse #scrubtech
Top 10: Organ Procurement and Transplant
Organ procurement and transplant surgeries are among the most unique and emotionally powerful cases the OR team may encounter. And while they may not happen often, or in every facility, when they do occur, preparation, collaboration, and advocacy matter more than ever.
In this First Case Articles-On-The-Go, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, walks through the Top 10 things perioperative teams should know about organ procurement and transplant, from understanding the role of visiting procurement teams and honoring donor consent, to managing complex multi-team procedures and the intense coordination required for life-saving transplants.
Tune in to discover how to prepare for the organ procurement and transplant procedures.
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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!
#operatingroom #transplant #ornurse #nurse #scrubtech
Top 10: Trauma Surgery
When seconds matter and the unexpected becomes routine, trauma teams rise to the challenge. In this First Case Articles On-The-Go: Top 10 Trauma Surgery, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, highlights the foundational principles every perioperative professional should understand when facing trauma.
From constant readiness and mastering Massive Transfusion Protocols to supporting anesthesia, coordinating multi-specialty teams, and preparing for both lifesaving intervention and end-of-life care, trauma surgery demands adaptability, precision, and true teamwork. Whether you work in a designated trauma center or a facility that only occasionally sees critical injuries, preparation is essential because trauma can happen anytime, anywhere.
This episode offers a practical starting point to strengthen your trauma readiness and reinforce the collaborative mindset required to deliver the best possible outcomes when it matters most.
#operatingroom #traumasurgery #ornurse #scrub #scrubtech #perioperative
Operation Collaboration: Clinical Coordinators – The Glue That Holds It All Together
As we wrap Season 18 of First Case, we turn the spotlight to the role that keeps everything moving behind the scenes: the Clinical Coordinator.
In our final episode, Rod McArdle of Boston Children’s Hospital shares how clinical coordinators balance scheduling, staffing, equipment, and real-time problem solving to keep surgical care running safely and efficiently. From anticipating equipment conflicts to coordinating with SPD, surgeons, and frontline teams, they are coordinating the moving pieces, communicating across teams, and thinking five steps ahead so the rest of us can focus on the patient in front of us.
This episode brings our entire season full circle, highlighting the teamwork required across departments to make surgery happen every day.
#operatingroom #ornurse #nurse #scrubtech #surgery #clinicalcoordinator
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