Operating theatre nurse specialist competence to ensure patient safety in the operating theatre: A discursive paper

Abstract

Aim To discuss specialist operating theatre nurses’ competence in relation to the general six core competencies and patient safety. Design A discursive analysis of legal statutes and scientific articles. Methods Swedish legal statutes and an overview of scientific articles on operating theatre nursing were deductively analysed and classified into healthcare providers’ general six core competencies. Results All healthcare professionals should possess the general core competencies, regardless of their discipline. The specific content within these competencies differs between disciplines. The specialized operating theatre nurse is the only healthcare professional having the competence to be responsible for asepsis, instrumentation, infection and complication, control and management of biological specimens during the surgical procedure. Besides operating theatre nurses, no other healthcare profession has the formal education, competence or skills to perform operating theatre nursing care in the theatre during the surgical procedure. Operating theatre nurse competence is therefore indispensable to ensure patient safety during surgery.

Comparison of Nursing Performance Competencies and Practical Education Needs Based on Clinical Careers of Operating Room Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Nursing competence is a fundamental aspect of safe clinical practice [ 5 ]. Similarly, OR nurses’ competence is indispensable to ensure patient safety during the perioperative process [ 6 ]. Waston et al [ 7 ] suggested that the assessment of nursing performance competencies was important in identifying areas that require additional professional development and education.…”

The Limbo Atmosphere in operating room settings Caused by Disruptive Behaviors: A Qualitative Study

“…How ORNs perceive and how they react to or deal with these behaviors? On the other hand scrub and circulating nurses are key members of ORs, they can play diverse, multifaceted, and specialized roles in these environments and work in direct relationships with surgeons, they can even have a significant impact on the overall team performance and surgical consequences [25,26].…”

Specialized Training for Nursing in the Surgical Area, a Question of Quality

“…Postgraduate training implies the acquisition of competencies inherent to a specific context and nursing specialties guide the professional towards clinically relevant competencies [6,7]. Consequently, they become a challenge for the profession, which involves combining patient care with highly technical aspects without affecting patient safety [8,9].…”

“…Specialized training in surgical areas ensures patient safety and is the cornerstone of clinical practice [11]. A clear description and identification of nursing competencies in the surgical field would make it easier for nurses working in these areas to be specialists with a formally acquired education [6].…”

“…It is difficult to completely eliminate the risk associated with healthcare assistance, but awareness should be raised about the professionals' need to acquire specific skills for the prevention of errors and avoidable adverse events, in order to guarantee the safety of the patient and respect their rights. Regulated training, experience and professionalism are considered essential elements for risk management in surgical care [6,8,12].…”