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.

——-

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.

——-

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

Top 10: Pediatric Surgery

Caring for pediatric surgical patients requires more than simply adapting adult practices. It demands a specialized, family-centered approach. In this First Case: Articles On-The-Go episode, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, walks through essential fundamentals every perioperative nurse should know, from maintaining a warm OR and using weight-based medication dosing to protecting delicate skin, preparing for malignant hyperthermia, and partnering closely with child life specialists.

The episode also highlights the emotional side of pediatric care, supporting not just the child, but the parents, while emphasizing the importance of communication, trust, and pediatric-specific competencies like PALS and NRP. Whether you work in a large children’s hospital, community facility, or ASC, this practical Top 10 is a strong foundation for delivering safe, compassionate care to our smallest patients.

#operatingroom #pediatrics #ornurse #scrubtech #surgery

Operation Collaboration: Vendor Reps – Partners in Surgical Care

“Where are your trays?”

Few phrases spike stress levels faster, and often, all eyes turn to the person in the red hat. But what really happens behind the scenes before those trays ever reach your back table?

In this powerful Operation: Collaboration episode, we pull back the curtain with medical device regional sales manager Bruce Finney to reveal the real world of vendor reps: high-pressure preparation, complex logistics, split-second problem solving, and the constant balance of being both essential to the team and still a guest in the room.

From implants and instrumentation to communication breakdowns and OR realities, this conversation will change how you see the role of the rep and why true surgical success depends on collaboration from everyone involved.

Listen now and step into the OR from the other side of the red hat.

#operatingroom #ornurse #vendor #scrubtech #surgery #collaboration