Book excerpt: Effective both as an introductory guide for nurses new to the discipline, and as a review for experienced perioperative nurses, this one-of-a-kind core reference presents the required knowledge and clinical skills for perioperative nursing. It identifies AORN Standards and Recommended Practices as they relate to specific subjects within the specialty. The book discusses historical, technical, and professional aspects of perioperative nursing, as well as educational issues. Plus, each chapter features 2 practice scenarios that demonstrate how the concepts apply to specific patient situations. Individual chapters cover asepsis, environmental safety, sterilization, care planning, wound closure, positioning, anesthesia, professional development, and training new perioperative nurses. In addition, readers will find controversy boxes that present opposing viewpoints on critical subjects as well as boxes and tables that highlight key information.