Sweeping the Nation: Surgical Smoke Legislation

Surgical smoke is a well-documented hazard, yet no national regulations mandating smoke safety in operating rooms exist. Despite warnings from OSHA and NIOSH since 1988, the lack of federal standards underscores the need for increased awareness and state-level legislation to protect both surgical teams and patients. Nurses play a key role in advocating for change and can drive progress by championing smoke evacuation policies in their facilities. This webinar will examine the latest advancements in surgical smoke legislation, emphasize the vital role of nurses in advocating for policy change, and outline practical steps for preparing and implementing state-level smoke evacuation laws.

 

Emily Jones, , MSN, RN, CNOR
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)

Emily  is a Senior Perioperative Practice Specialist at AORN, a PhD candidate, and has over 25 years of clinical experience in perioperative nursing. She’s authored key AORN guidelines on topics like surgical smoke safety and patient safety and is a contributing editor for the AORN Journal. Emily’s expertise spans clinical practice, team communication, and crisis simulation.