First Case Podcast

When seconds matter and the unexpected becomes routine, trauma teams rise to the challenge. In this First Case Articles On-The-Go: Top 10 Trauma Surgery, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, highlights the foundational principles every perioperative professional should understand when facing trauma.

From constant readiness and mastering...

As we wrap Season 18 of First Case, we turn the spotlight to the role that keeps everything moving behind the scenes: the Clinical Coordinator.

In our final episode, Rod McArdle of Boston Children's Hospital shares how clinical coordinators balance scheduling, staffing, equipment, and real-ti...

Caring for pediatric surgical patients requires more than simply adapting adult practices. It demands a specialized, family-centered approach. In this First Case: Articles On-The-Go episode, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, walks through essential fundamentals every perioperative nurse should know, from maintaining a warm OR and using weight-based medication dosing ...

"Where are your trays?"

Few phrases spike stress levels faster, and often, all eyes turn to the person in the red hat. But what really happens behind the scenes before those trays ever reach your back table?

In this powerful Operation: Collaboration episode, w...

This week, we're stepping outside the OR and into the world of Facilities, the department quietly powering everything from air and water to electricity, pressure, and environmental safety. Without them, surgeries simply don't happen.

Join us as we talk with seasoned facilities consultant Kathy Neal about how Facilities' teams keep the surgical environment safe, c...

We might not be celebrating Perioperative Nurses Week this week, but we've always got time to shine a spotlight on perioperative nursing. 

In this week's Articles On-The-Go, Lindsey Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR shares her own journey into perioperative nursing. From thinking the ICU was her forever home to finding unexpected inspiration in the operating room, this episode is a reminder that sometimes the p...

Have you ever wondered what really happens behind the 'black door' between the OR and pharmacy? 👀💊

In this week's First Case interview, we sit down with Zahara, an experienced inpatient pharmacist from San Diego, to uncover the unseen work that keep...

This week our Operation: Collaboration season continues with a deep dive into the often-unseen world of the Lab. In this episode, former laboratory associate supervisor turned OR nurse Anna Goodman bridges both sides of the specimen cup, breaking down cultures versus permanents, demystifying frozen sections, and explaining how real-time communication betw...

Sterile processing doesn't run on magic, despite what we may sometimes think. In today's interview, we're joined by Angela Benson, a sterile processing education specialist, to talk about what really happens to our instruments long before they ever reach the back table. 

From decontamination and assembly to sterilization, documentation, and case cart build, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the complex, detail-driven work...

Perfect imaging every time. No repairs. No reprocessing. Could single-use arthroscopes be the answer? On this special Beyond Clean, First Case, Power Supply, and Transmission Control Vendor Spotlight™ co-release episode, we're joined by Rich McKillop, CEO of Pristine Surgical, to explore how their S...

Radiology is one of those departments that we rely on every single day in the OR, but don't always stop to think about how much coordination is required for our two departments to work together. In this second episode of Operation: Collaboration, we sit down with April Hughes, a radiologic technologist, to explore how radiology supports surgical care before, during, and after the procedure.

From juggling limited C-arms and tracking...

What does a canceled flight have in common with a canceled surgical case? More than you might think.

In today's article, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR shares a personal travel story that unexpectedly reframed how she thinks about case cancellations by seeing them through the patient's perspective. Through delays, rebookings,...

We're kicking off Season 18 of First Case with a topic that impacts every single case we run, but doesn't always get the spotlight it deserves: supply chain. In this season premiere, we're joined by Gary Skinner of Discover S3 Consulting to talk about what really happens behind the scenes to make surgery possible.

From onboarding new surgeons and managing ...

In this playful poem, Melanie highlights the hard work of those in the operating room, especially during the holiday season, and reminds us all that what we do every single day makes a difference in the lives of our patients. 

Happy Holidays! 

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Articles On-the-Go presents perioperative insights from wri...

Happy Holidays! As we celebrate the season, we're giving you a special bonus episode of First Case featuring Phyllis Quinlan, RN, President and CEO of MFW Consultants. In this timely conversation, Phyllis shares powerful insights on navigating persistent uncertainty, reframing "change" as growth and evolution, and leading teams with empathy, clarity, and solidarity during unprecedented times.

As ...

Orthopedics is one of the busiest, and most equipment-intensive, service lines in health care. In this First Case Articles on the Go episode, Lindsay Joyce and Melanie Perry break down the Top 10 (plus one) foundational things every perioperative professional should know about working in orthopedic surgery. From nerve bloc...

Gynecology surgery presents unique challenges that require preparation, precision, and strong clinical awareness. In this new First Case: Articles on the Go episode, Lindsay Joyce, MSN, RN, CNOR, shares 10 essential insights every perioperative professional should know before stepping into a GYN case, from preventing nerve...

In our season finale of First Case, we unpack two OR practices that many of us have seen (or done!), from adjusting surgical loupes with blue towels to the truly legendary myth of "perineal fallout."

This episode blends humor, history, and evidence-based practice as we talk about why some habits stick, how outdated ideas per...

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week! As we head into the holiday, it's a good time to reflect on the many things we're grateful for, both personally and professionally. In the latest First Case Articles on the Go, Melanie highlights a thoughtful (and relatable) Top 10 list of things we appreciate most about working in the operating room.