Prevention of percutaneous sharps injuries in perioperative settings remains a challenge. Occupational transmission of bloodborne pathogens, not only from patients to health care providers but also from health care providers to patients, is a significant concern. Legislation and position statements geared toward ensuring the safety of patients and health care workers have not resulted in significantly reduced sharps injuries in perioperative settings. Awareness and understanding of the types of percutaneous injuries that occur in perioperative settings is fundamental to developing an effective sharps injury prevention program. The AORN "Recommended practices for sharps safety" clearly delineates evidence-based recommendations for sharps injury prevention. Perioperative RNs can lead efforts to change practice for the safety of patients and perioperative team members by promoting the elimination of sharps hazards; the use of engineering, work practice, and administrative controls; and the proper use of personal protective equipment, including double gloving.

Issues in aseptic technique challenge every perioperative practitioner. Equally challenging for educators is how to creatively present information to large groups of staff members in a way that facilitates learning. This article describes the process used to address practice issues in aseptic technique and to present educational inservice programs to a large number of staff members. Two clinical educators formed a work group comprising staff RNs and surgical technologists to address this topic. Work group members then planned and presented a two-part education session to review these issues with surgical staff members.

Clinical nurse educators are challenged continually to develop interesting and meaningful education sessions for staff members. At the Mayo Medical Center, Rochester, Minn, clinical nurse educators in the surgical services department created an education session based on the television game show Jeopardy. Staff members found they could remember information presented during the education session more easily because of the game show format.

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