Guidelines in Practice: Safe Use of Surgical Energy Devices

The recently updated AORN "Guideline for the safe use of surgical energy devices" provides perioperative nurses with background information on surgical energy devices and ways to prevent patient and staff member injury during use. This article provides an overview of the guideline and discusses recommendations for assessment, planning, and injury prevention; surgical energy device generators; accessories; return electrodes; implanted electronic devices; and education. It also includes a clinical scenario that describes how perioperative nurses apply these recommendations in practice to prevent thermal injury and ensure the safe management of implanted electronic devices. Perioperative nurses should review the guideline in its entirety and apply the recommendations when using surgical energy devices.