Meeting the challenge of perioperative education

The staffing challenges faced by perioperative nurse managers today are not easily met by waiting for experienced perioperative nurses to apply for positions. As Baby Boomer nurses retire, managers must consider hiring and orienting new graduates and nurses experienced in other subspecialties who are interested in working in the OR. An effective didactic and clinical education program can produce nurses with a basic perioperative knowledge from which they can build a solid clinical practice. Using Periop 101: A Core Curriculum™, the director of perioperative services at a level II trauma center implemented a successful program to solve a staffing need and help students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become effective perioperative nurses. Strong interest from capable applicants, a dedicated educator, and financial resources and support from hospital administrators helped make this program a viable way to staff the OR.