AdventHealth program prepares the next generation of operating room nurses

DENVER, Colo. — AdventHealth’s Rocky Mountain region is helping prepare the next generation of operating room nurses through the Perioperative Nurse Intern (PONI) Program, which launched in June 2024.

Designed for both new graduate and experienced nurses entering the OR, the program provides the specialized training needed to ensure every nurse receives consistent, comprehensive preparation for perioperative practice -- everything the care team does to prepare a patient for surgery, keep them safe during the procedure and support recovery afterward.

Because of the highly specialized nature of operating room nursing, all nurses entering the OR complete the PONI Program, regardless of prior experience.

The 26-week program is divided into two phases.

Phase I lasts eight weeks and includes AORN didactic coursework, shadowing across perioperative areas including Pre Op, PACU, GI, and the OR, as well as region-wide hands-on skills sessions led by Regional Perioperative Educator Maggy McCluskey. Interns work five eight-hour shifts, Monday through Friday, during this phase.

Phase II begins after Phase I and typically lasts 16 weeks, with interns beginning orientation in their hiring operating room and working either four 10-hour shifts or five 8-hour shifts, Monday through Friday.

“The PONI Program was created to give nurses the knowledge, confidence and hands-on experience they need to succeed in the OR,” said Maggie McCluskey, Regional Perioperative Educator. “This specialty requires strong teamwork, communication and a deep understanding of every role in perioperative services. And this program helps set that foundation from the very beginning.”

The program prepares nurses for the circulating role while also introducing them to the scrub role.

Circulating nurses are responsible for planning and coordinating patient care before, during and after procedures; supporting patient safety; collaborating with surgeons, anesthesia and surgical technologists; maintaining sterile and safe environments; advocating for the patient; and evaluating outcomes while taking accountability for the nursing care provided.

For Sara Van Aalst, an OR nurse at AdventHealth Littleton and a PONI Program participant, the experience helped turn a long-held career dream into reality.

She said she had always been interested in the OR but worried that, as a non-new graduate, she might not be considered without prior experience.

“The PONI program was super informative and helpful,” Van Aalst said. “It helped build my confidence in the OR and showed me the ‘why’ of things, not just the ‘how.’ The program took something that would’ve been overwhelming and made it fun.”

Van Aalst also said the experience helped her better understand the importance of every role within perioperative services.

“The OR is one big family that requires teamwork and communication,” she said. “The PONI program gives you insights on everyone’s role in the Periop group, including SPD, Pre Op, PACU, turnover team and more. Every role is important to getting the job done.”

Through programs like PONI, AdventHealth is investing in education, confidence and collaboration while preparing nurses to thrive in one of the most complex and rewarding areas of healthcare.