🌍✨ Happy National Diversity Month! ✨🌍 This month we’re celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives that make our world vibrant and unique. For perioperative nurses, embracing diversity is not just about recognizing our differences—it's about leveraging them to provide the best possible care for our patients. What is DEI in action for a periop nurse? Some examples: Language Access: Utilizing qualified medical interpreters for patients with limited English proficiency during preoperative education, consent processes, and postoperative instructions. Cultural Considerations in Pain Management: Understanding that different cultures may have varying expressions of and beliefs about pain, and tailoring pain management strategies accordingly. Respecting Religious Practices: Accommodating prayer times, dietary restrictions, and the presence of religious leaders as requested by patients. Gender-Affirming Care: Providing respectful and appropriate care for transgender and gender non-conforming patients, using their preferred pronouns and ensuring a welcoming environment. Addressing Implicit Bias: Participating in regular training and self-reflection to identify and mitigate unconscious biases that could affect patient care decisions. Advocating for Equitable Resource Allocation: Recognizing and addressing disparities in access to resources based on socioeconomic status or geographic location. At AORN, we are dedicated to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the perioperative community. Our commitment is rooted in the fundamental principle of respecting the inherent dignity, worth, unique attributes, and human rights of every individual. Access the tools to advance patient access and equitable outcomes: https://www.aorn.org/about-aorn/dei/advancing-diversity--equity--and-inclusion-in-perioperative-nursing Together, let's champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that every individual—periop nurses and patients—feels valued, respected, and empowered in the pursuit of optimal health outcomes💙 #PerioperativeNursing #DiversityInHealthcare #ORLife #nursing #periop #nurses #nurse #ornurses (fb)

💥 Want to create an OR where nurses feel valued, motivated, and ready to stay? It starts with people-first leadership—a culture built on trust, empowerment, and real connection. 💪 Here’s how you can make it happen 👇 1️⃣ Hire for engagement – Go beyond clinical skills. Ask questions that reveal how nurses will contribute to your team culture. 2️⃣ Set clear expectations – Align on goals, clarify roles, and give everyone the info they need to work together seamlessly. 3️⃣ Model inclusive communication – Listen with empathy, invite input, and foster open dialogue that makes every voice count. 4️⃣ Empower through learning – Let your team grow. Offer leadership opportunities, support continuous learning, and recognize their wins. 5️⃣ Build trust through competence, character, and connection – Show your team you’ve got the skills, the integrity, and the heart to lead them. 💡 Pro tip: Don’t shy away from tough conversations. Bring your team in, talk through barriers, and find solutions together. That’s how real trust is built. Laura Gayton, RN, CNOR, stepped into a leadership role at an outpatient surgery center facing recruitment struggles and a history of unstable leadership. Even with the backing of a major academic medical center nearby, the solution wasn’t more resources—it was a stronger people-first culture. 💬 “My ultimate goal is to make my staff feel like they have the power to positively influence their workplace and be an active part of shaping the facility they want to work in.” How are you building a people-first culture in your OR? Share your go-to strategies or biggest challenges with your team below #Nursing #ORNurse #NurseLife #ORLife #Nurse #Nurses #Periop #PeriopNursing (fb)