Resources

Surgical hand antisepsis, gowning and gloving DVD

Hospitals and day surgeries around the country are using this resource, based on evidence-based protocols and procedures, to educate their staff on the procedure for surgical hand antisepsis, downing and gloving.

Available as a DVD for easy hands-on access and as an e-subscription, perfect for facilities to share among multiple users. Also available as a bundle of both the DVD and e-subscription.

The DVD, e-subscription or bundle is now available to purchase through the Education shop.

Audit tools

ACORN is currently developing practice audit tools to measure workplace compliance with a number of ACORN standards. The audit tools will be available in two bundles – Audit tools 1: Asepsis and clinical care and Audit tools 2: Staff and patient safety.

Click here to register your interest.

Practical clinical skills assessment checklist

The Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN) would like to assist in the practical skill development of nurses who are new to preoperative and perianaesthesia nursing.

To this end the college has developed three checklists of basic skills required for safe practice of our ‘junior and novice nurses’ who are studying towards a graduate certificate or graduate diploma in perioperative/perianaesthesia practice.

• Practical clinical skills assessment checklist – Perioperative nursing
• Practical clinical skills assessment checklist – Perianaesthesia, Anaesthesia nursing
• Practical clinical skills assessment checklist – Perianaesthesia nursing, PACU

These are not a definitive lists, but are designed to assist in practical educational development of novice perioperative nurses.

Members can download copies of the Practical clinical skills assessment checklists from the Assessment checklist page of the Members hangout section.

ACORN generic perioperative count record

The ACORN generic perioperative count record is designed to be adapted by health service organisations and used to document the count process during surgical procedures.  The count record will document:

1. the number of accountable items used during the procedure
2. the staff involved
3. the count outcomes, including any incorrect count.

The count record is to be used in conjunction with health service organisation's approved perioperative documentation (electronic and non-electronic) that captures other data relating to the surgical procedure.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• perioperative care pathways
• consent for operation
• utilisation data (times, rooms, etc.)
• medication charts
• IV therapy prescription
• pain management prescription (epidural, PCA)
• fluid balance charts
• tray lists. 

All terminology used within the ACORN generic perioperative count record is consistent with ACORN standard 'Management of accountable items used during surgery and procedures'.

NB: The number and dimensions of rows and columns in the document can be changed for local use depending on case type and volume of use.

Health service organisations should refer to ACORN standard 'Management of accountable items used during surgery and procedures' when developing and using the perioperative count record based on this generic template.

Members can download a copy of the ACORN generic perioperative count record from the ACORN count record page of the  Members hangout section.