First Case Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Working Outside Your Service Line, The More You Know Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

When was the last time you stepped outside your service line?

In this week's Articles on the Go, Lindsey Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, shares her story of working outside her cardiac specialty, and the unexpected lessons that came with it. From scrubbing a gallbladder case to circulating a robotic procedure, Lindsey reminds us that staying well-rounded isn't just good for our patients, it's essential for our careers.

Working in the operating room is full of surprises. Keeping your skills sharp across specialties helps you stay flexible, confident, and ready for whatever comes next.

🎧 Listen now!

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Articles On-the-Go presents perioperative insights from written articles in a creative, easy to listen, audio format. Think audio book, meets busy Operating Room professional!

#operatingroom #ornurse #scrubtech #surgery #perioperative

Room Temp Reality: Evidence, Guidelines, & Practice Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

Is a cold OR really better for patient infection prevention, or is it just another myth we've been holding onto for too long?

In this week's episode, we're joined by Garret Hollenbeak, System Infection Preventionist at Bon Secours Mercy Health and Editor-in-Chief of our sister podcast, Transmission Control.

Together, we dig into the science behind temperature management in the OR, breaking down the difference between room temperature and patient temperature, the importance of maintaining normothermia, and how factors like humidity, staff comfort, and infection prevention all connect. We'll also discuss how teamwork between infection prevention and OR staff is essential for keeping patients safe.

🎧 Tune in to hear why a "cold" OR might not be as protective as you think, and how evidence-based practice helps us strike the right balance between comfort, safety, and outcomes.

#operatingroom #ornurse #scrubtech #infectionprevention #patientsafety #podcast

Covering Back Tables: Myths, Risks, & Best Practices Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

"You can't cover your back table!" or can you? 🤔

For years, many of us were taught that covering a back table was never allowed. But AST and AORN guidelines say otherwise, as long as it's done correctly.

Join Melanie Perry and Chris Blevins as they kick off a brand-new season of First Case by busting this long-standing myth. They'll dive into when covering a back table is appropriate, how to do it safely, and why understanding the why behind the practice matters for every surgical team.

Tune in to the Season 17 premiere now!

#operatingroom #ornurse #perioperative #podcast #scrubtech #surgicaltechnologist

Discover A Surgeon's Compassion Beyond the OR Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Surgeons are often seen as unshakable figures in the OR, but behind the scalpel lies a human story of triumphs, challenges, and compassion.

In today's Articles on the Go, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, reviews Brain and Heart: The Triumphs and Struggles of a Pediatric Neurosurgeon by Dr. David Sandberg. From high-stakes neurosurgeries to medical mission trips, this memoir offers an inspiring look into the realities of pediatric surgery—and the humanity that drives it.

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Articles On-the-Go presents perioperative insights from written articles in a creative, easy to listen, audio format. Think audio book, meets busy Operating Room professional!

#operatingroom #ornurse #scrubtech #surgery #perioperative

The Joplin Tornado: My Near Miss Experience Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

In 2011, an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, Missouri, destroying St. John's Regional Medical Center and claiming 158 lives. Lindsey Joyce narrowly missed being there that day, and now she's sharing her story, along with five critical tornado preparedness tips every OR team should know.

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Articles On-the-Go presents perioperative insights from written articles in a creative, easy to listen, audio format. Think audio book, meets busy Operating Room professional!

#operatingroom #ornurse #scrubtech #surgery #perioperative

The Hidden Cost of Calling Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

We've all heard it: "Nursing is a calling." It sounds noble, but this romanticized language has a hidden price. It can normalize burnout, justify unsafe staffing, and excuse inadequate pay, all under the guise of dedication.

In this eye-opening episode, Melanie Perry, BSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM, challenges the "calling" narrative and makes a case for recognizing nursing as the highly skilled, indispensable profession it truly is, and one that deserves respect, fair compensation, and safe working conditions.

#operatingroom #nurse #nursing #perioperative

How Do I... Engage Staff in Education? Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

It's the Season 16 finale of First Case! We're wrapping up the season with a conversation you don't want to miss. We sit down with Matt Lowe, Clinical Programs Director for SSIs at Medline, to explore how we can make OR education engaging, relevant, and effective. From gamification and escape-room style learning to the vital role of unit champions, Matt shares strategies to keep staff learning, prevent complacency, and ensure safe patient care.

Tune in now!

#operatingroom #ornurse #perioperative #OREducation #scrubtech #surgicaltechnologist

StreetClothes: The Surfer Aug 24, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of StreetClothes, we speak with a clinician with a passion for chasing waves and finding rhythm in the ocean's tide. From early-morning paddles to the rush of a perfect swell, this surfer blends patience, balance, and energy into every ride.

Tune in to hear how Eric Price paddles past the daily grind and chases the thrill of the waves…

If you like this series OR have an interesting side-hustle, passion project, or hobby you do outside of your hospital day job that keeps you inspired, refreshed, and motivated, we'd love to hear from you! Message Hank Balch on LinkedIn for a chance to come on the show and share it with the world!

#StreetClothes #Hobbies #SideHustles #PeopleMatter #Healthcare #BeyondClean #FirstCase #PowerSupply #TransmissionControl #HealthcareHQ

How Do I... Understand the AORN Guidelines? Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

Behind every AORN Guideline is a team of experts, years of research, and a commitment to safe, evidence-based perioperative care.

In this week's interview, we sit down with Erin Kyle, Editor-in-Chief of the AORN Guidelines for Perioperative Practice, to uncover exactly how these guidelines are created, vetted, and implemented. Erin takes us inside the process, clears up common misconceptions, and shows us how to implement them in our facilities.

Listen now to learn how the guidelines are developed, why public comment matters, and where to find AORN's ready-to-use resources for seamless implementation.

#operatingroom #ornurse #perioperative #guidelines #perioperativenurse #surgery

When Communication Isn't A Game Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

Remember playing telephone as a kid? We always laughed with when the message got mixed up. But in the OR, miscommunication can change everything, and even lead to cancelled surgeries or patient safety issues. In this episode, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, shares a real-life call-back story that turned into a powerful lesson on why "closing the loop" in communication is essential for patient care, efficiency, and trust.

#operatingroom #ornurse #communication #surgery #scrubtech

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