South Carolina Survey Seeks Input on Surgical Smoke Evacuation Practices

Healthcare professionals across South Carolina are encouraged to participate in a statewide survey aimed at assessing current surgical smoke evacuation practices and identifying opportunities to improve safety for patients and operating room personnel.

The initiative is being led by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) in collaboration with nurses throughout South Carolina. Organizers are seeking responses from a broad range of perioperative professionals, including registered nurses, nurse managers, surgical technologists and anyone who may be exposed to surgical smoke in the workplace.

According to organizers, the survey is designed to provide a clearer picture of how surgical smoke evacuation is being implemented in healthcare facilities across the state. The findings will help identify gaps in current practices and guide future education, policy development and patient and staff safety initiatives.

Vangie Dennis, MSN, RN, CMLSO, CNOR, FAORN, FAAN, said participation from all eligible healthcare professionals is critical, regardless of whether their facility already has a surgical smoke evacuation program in place.

“It gives us a better database for what is actually happening instead of assuming through word-of-mouth,” Dennis said.

Organizers emphasize that every response will contribute to a more accurate understanding of current practices and help support efforts to create safer surgical environments for healthcare workers and patients alike.

Healthcare professionals who work in perioperative settings and may be exposed to surgical smoke are encouraged to complete the survey and share their experiences. The information collected is expected to help shape future initiatives focused on improving surgical smoke evacuation practices across South Carolina.

Scan here to take the survey.