Saint Francis Holds Education Seminar with Operating Room and Sterile Processing Department
September 18, 2024Categories: Colleague Corner
The relationship between the Operating Room (OR) and the Sterile Processing Department (SPD) is vital to ensuring the success of both departments and being able to provide the best quality care to our patients. SPD, or Central Sterile, is the heartbeat of any hospital, as they provide critical sterile supplies and services that keep the hospital running. A large part of SPD responsibilities is ensuring the OR has sterile instrument sets and supplies for every surgery that is performed.
Member of Saint Francis Hospital Operating Room and Sterile Processing Department collaborated to provide colleagues an interactive, educational seminar about the importance of instrument care.
“I always like to explain to staff to think about the ‘journey’ that surgical instruments go on,” said Brian K. Burrier, MSN, RN, CNOR-CARD, Perioperative Nursing Professional Development Specialist. “How do the instruments get from the bloody OR field back to a tray for tomorrow’s surgery? There are so many important, multi-disciplinary steps that go on during this process, and the relationship between the two departments is critical so we can all help each other.”
Brian had the initial idea to collaborate with SPD on an in-service for OR staff on the importance of instrument care and the role of SPD. With the help of Shawna Botticello, CSPDT, and Sonja Chambers, MSN, RN, CNOR, a plan was devised to create a multi-station, round robin style education seminar, which quickly became a point of excitement for everyone involved.
Shawna, along with Daisy Nascimento, Clinical Coordinator, and the amazing SPD team were incredibly excited for the opportunity to present their specialty education. The SPD team created sterile “candy peel” pouches and multiple vendors were called in for various product demonstrations. Tables were laid out in a way for staff to spend five to ten minutes on each topic and then move on to another table.
SPD staff ran the pre-cleaning/decontamination, inspection, and wrapping stations, while Daisy manned the instrument repair station. Stryker, OneTray, and IMS vendors were also on hand with their products. Finally, Sonja had an SPD trivia station that attendees found incredibly fun! Bingo cards were handed out to encourage staff to visit every table. Brian acted as the coordinator, making sure everything was running smoothly.
The staff from Main OR, ASU, CVOR, CJRI, and Spine operating rooms came through the seminar. The education went very well, with many compliments from attendees.
“It is collaboration and education like this that strengthens the bond between the OR and SPD staff,” said Brian. “It underscores the importance of why pre-cleaning and soaking instruments is so valuable to the entire process. We hope to do more collaborative educational seminars in the future!”
Submitted by Brian K. Burrier, MSN, RN, CNOR-CARD, Perioperative Nursing Professional Development Specialist, Saint Francis Hospital.
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