AORN and 3M Announce Perioperative Hand Hygiene Champions

As National Nurses Week honors the contributions of nursing professionals around the world, 3M and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) today announced the professionals who were selected as Perioperative Hand Hygiene Champions.  

This select group of nurse and infection prevention professionals was nominated by their colleagues for demonstrating passion for AORN’s Recommended Practices (RP) for Hand Hygiene in the Perioperative Setting, fostering collaboration in hand hygiene compliance best practice within their facility or among professional communities, and for their programs that had impact through the use of creative communications tools. The Champions group includes the following individuals or teams:

-- East Jefferson General Hospital “Who Dat Hand Washing Team,” East Jefferson Hospital, Metairie, La.

-- Amy Gray, Magnolia Regional Health Center, Corinth, Miss.

-- Infection Control Liaisons, New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, Mass.

-- Jennifer McElroy, Missoula Bone & Joint Surgery Center, Missoula, Mont.

-- Diane McGlone, Southwest Surgical Suites, Ft. Wayne, Ind.

-- Leslie Morin, Yuma Regional Medical Center, Yuma, Ariz.

“The hand hygiene practice ideas and program examples from the nominees can remind all perioperative professionals that training and education to implement AORN Recommended Practices can take many forms,” said Linda Groah, RN, MSN, CNOR, NEA-BC, FAAN, executive director/CEO of AORN. “When we combine RPs with memorable learning tools, there is a higher level of compliance.”

The nominees employed a variety of creative and informative activities to support hand hygiene best practices, including: a “Game Day” among staff to test knowledge and compliance, a black-light kit showing what improper washing leaves behind, creative posters and screen savers to remind staff about the importance of hand hygiene and direct participation in rounds to directly encourage strict adherence to protocols. 

“It’s because of the hard work and creativity of professionals that a greater emphasis on hand hygiene is present in healthcare organizations across the country,” said Cheryl Pederson, 3M marketing manager, hand hygiene.  “We encourage all perioperative and infection prevention professionals to become champions of hand hygiene in their own organizations and do their part to continue driving down the risks of healthcare-acquired infections.”

As a Perioperative Hand Hygiene Champion, the recipients will receive a certificate for their efforts, six months’ free membership to AORN for themselves or one team lead, and will be invited to participate in special activities throughout the year that will enable them to showcase their creative programs and best practices.