20 years ago in the AORN Journal

AORN Journal, May, 2007

The "Editorial" questions why, in an era of the largest budget deficit in US history, the government wants to bankroll a catastrophic illness plan for the elderly through Medicare. * A news item reports that a state supreme court has ruled it unlawful for hospital policy to require different dress codes for male and female employees.

The case stemmed from the reprimand of a female hospital employee who wore a laboratory coat over street clothes to work instead of a full white or pastel uniform. * A study monitoring nitrous oxide ([N.sub.2]0) in the OR finds that current acceptable practices in anesthesia administration can produce ambient levels of [N.sub.2]0 that are higher than the recommended permissible levels. * "Legislation" discusses proposed parental leave and pay equity bills.