The Oak July 2025
Thank you to everyone who attended the ACORN Annual General Meeting on 28 June. It was a productive meeting with reports from the board chair and treasurer. The meeting was informed that, in the best interest of the company and members, the board will review who to appoint as auditor; therefore, an auditor was not appointed at the meeting.
In addition, there was discussion about the two special resolutions that the role of President be reinstated and replace the role of Board Chair, and that this be reflected in the Constitution, and that the ACORN Constitution be amended to incorporate the category of General members, and the Affiliate member category name be changed to include international members. Both special resolutions were passed by majority vote. An overview of the proceedings from the meeting will be available on the ACORN website soon.
ACORN is pleased to announce that the Accountable items standards is now open for public consultation. The consultation period ends on 28 July. We invite all perioperative professionals, stakeholders, and interested contributors to review the draft and share their feedback.
Tracy Kerle
Board Chair
Have your say
ACORN is pleased to announce that the Accountable items standards is now open for public consultation. This draft document is part of our commitment to developing high-quality, evidence-based guidance that supports safe and effective perioperative practice across Australia.
We invite all perioperative professionals, stakeholders, and interested contributors to review the draft and share their feedback. The consultation period ends on 28 July. Your insights are vital to ensuring this standard is practical, relevant and reflective of the real-world experiences of our perioperative community.
Why your feedback matters
The public comment process plays a key role in shaping ACORN standards, ensuring that they are:
- clinically sound and informed by evidence
- practical and implementable across diverse settings
- aligned with the experiences of frontline perioperative professionals.
We ask that you download the draft document from the ACORN website, then submit your comments through the provided survey link. Please avoid using track changes or adding feedback directly within the documents, as this hinders the review process.
By contributing your voice, you are helping build safer, stronger perioperative environments across Australia. Whether you're a nurse, an educator, a student, medical company representative or manager your input is essential.
Additional draft standards will be released throughout the year for consultation. Make sure you’re subscribed to ACORN updates on social media and The Oak newsletter, so you never miss a chance to contribute.
Thank you for being part of this collaborative process!
The global embrace of SipTilSend and lessons for de-implementation in perioperative care
Oya Gumuskaya, Sarah Aitken, Mitchell Sarkies
Jessica Muscat and Paula Foran
Research
This article by Dr Paula Foran and Nick Nijkamp has been featured in an EORNA (European Operating Room Nurses Association) education highlight.
The ethics of GenAI use and reliance in nursing education: Are we harming each other?
The effects of temporary staff on observable teamwork outcomes within operating rooms
Documents and updates of note
World Health Organization (WHO) report: State of world nursing 2025
The report introduces forward-looking policy priorities, calling on countries to:
- expand and equitably distribute nursing jobs, especially in underserved regions
- strengthen domestic education systems and align qualifications with defined roles
- improve working conditions, pay equity, and mental well-being support
- further develop nursing regulation and advanced practice nursing roles
- promote gender equity and protect nurses working in fragile, conflict-affected settings
- harness digital technologies and prepare nurses for climate-responsive care
- advance nursing leadership and ensure leadership development opportunities are equitable.
WHO Standardization of medical devices nomenclature
Content update: Standard Components for Operating Suites
Australian Health Facility Guidelines: Standard Components for Operating Suites has been updated.
Key changes include:
- Improved clarity around medical services pendant requirements in the operating room (general) and the procedure room (endoscopy standard components).
- Redesign of the anaesthetic preparation room to improve space and equipment layout, ensure patient safety and support efficient workflows.
- Development of the clean-up room to provide clear zones for cleaning equipment, waste management and instrument decontamination. Considerations for distribution of fluid management systems between operating rooms have also been noted.
- Creation of a new standard component for an exit bay to ensure requirements are considered and captured early by project teams.
The updated Standard Components include:
- ANAES – Anaesthetic Preparation Room (previously ANAE-16)
- B-SCRUB – Scrub Bay (previously SCRB-4)
- CLNUP – Clean-up Room (previously CLUP-10)
- STSS – Store - Sterile Stock (previously STSS-20)
- OR-GEN – Operating Room – General (previously ORGN)
- ENPR – Procedure Room – Endoscopy.
Education
EORNA online learning platform
This platform enables all nurses to acquire the necessary practices to work in the operating room. Educational paths are differentiated by surgical specialities and by type of instruments.
AORN (Association of periOperative Registered Nurses) ERAS Education program
This program is built on the latest 2025 Guidelines for Perioperative Practice. This free, evidence-based program empowers your team with actionable strategies to improve outcomes before, during and after surgery.
News
Medical 3D printing: From niche to mainstream
Medical 3D printing: from niche to mainstream. From personalised medical guides and implants to advanced surgical planning solutions: 3D printing and visualisation has seen considerable growth over the past years and is already making a significant impact in healthcare. At the 3D Printing in Hospitals Forum in Leuven, Belgium, hosted by Materialise, experts explored the potential for growth and current barriers that need to be overcome for more patients to benefit from this technology.
Surgical Smoke Evacuation Bills Across the Country in 2025 | AORN
Smoke evaluation legislation in USA: Nurses across the US from Hawaii to Massachusetts have been working diligently on surgical smoke evacuation legislation in 2025. To date, nine states – Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas – have introduced bills to address harmful surgical smoke and the need to implement statewide requirements to protect perioperative nurses, their colleagues and their patients from the hazards prevalent in surgical smoke.
Endoscopes and lumened instruments: New studies highlight persistent contamination risks
Recently, two new studies shine a light on some alarming findings, reminding us why vigilance in reprocessing these devices is still crucial.
USA: Joint Commission to create guidelines on AI's use in health care
The Joint Commission has partnered with the Coalition for Health AI to establish and implement evidence-based guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare operations.
UK: Hospital staff given custom hats to help patients identify them
Hospital-funded re-usable theatre hats with names embroidered on them.
Anaesthetic reporting tool reveals operating room risks
An online reporting tool – webAIRS (web-based anaesthetic incident reporting system) – available to all Australian and New Zealand anaesthetic departments enables frontline clinicians to report and analyse potential risks anonymously.
Perioperative planetary health special interest group
ACORN has created this group for ACORN members to share initiatives, seek out resources and research to aid green team activity in their healthcare facilities.
Member spotlight
Australian nurses recognised for outstanding service in King's Birthday 2025 Honours
ACORN Fellow, Dr Toni Hains, was awarded an OAM in the 2025 king’s birthday honours.
Operating theatre nurses volunteer across the seas
This article features two ACORN members and their volunteer work.
VPNG Conference
Friday 8 August, Pullman Melbourne
NTPNA Conference
15–16 August, Darwin Hilton
ACORN 2026 Conference
14–16 May 2026, Brisbane Convention Centre
