THE ROLE OF NURSE IN PROMOTING PATIENT SAFETY IN THE OPERATING ROOM DURING SURGERY
Kimeli, Charity; Kipchirchir, Yvonne (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025072823701
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025072823701
Tiivistelmä
Globally, patient safety is a crucial aspect of healthcare. Modern healthcare, with advancements in technology, surgical equipment, anaesthesia, and complex surgeries, improves the quality of life of many patients. However, patient harm is still a concern, even 25 years after the report by the Institute of Medicine. To err is human.
Therefore, this study’s aim was to describe the role of nurses in promoting patient safety in the operating room during surgery. The research method used was a descriptive literature review. Additionally, thematic analysis was used to identify the study's main themes.
The study’s findings revealed that nurses play a crucial role in preoperative preparation, which includes having a clear preoperative plan, correct patient identifications and well-functioning surgical equipment. In addition, effective communication and teamwork ensured a timely and effective surgical process limiting communication lapses which can lead to patient harm. Furthermore, following standardized hand washing techniques, using the correct skin disinfection agents and ensuring that the operating room environment is effectively prepared for the surgery, including having enough skilled and competent nurses. Similarly, pressure injury prevention and correct patient positioning can be achieved by using gel pads on areas and joints that are prone to injury and maintaining skin integrity. Also, advocating for the patients and ensuring that their dignity is maintained throughout the surgery are important roles of the nurse. Finally, reporting and documentation ensures that there is continuity of care and easy access to information when needed for better surgical outcomes.
By providing students with this fundamental knowledge, the study hopes to better prepare future nurses for the complexities of surgical care, so that they will be able to improve the safety of the patient. The study recommends future research on the role nurses play in the integration of technology for better patient outcome.
Therefore, this study’s aim was to describe the role of nurses in promoting patient safety in the operating room during surgery. The research method used was a descriptive literature review. Additionally, thematic analysis was used to identify the study's main themes.
The study’s findings revealed that nurses play a crucial role in preoperative preparation, which includes having a clear preoperative plan, correct patient identifications and well-functioning surgical equipment. In addition, effective communication and teamwork ensured a timely and effective surgical process limiting communication lapses which can lead to patient harm. Furthermore, following standardized hand washing techniques, using the correct skin disinfection agents and ensuring that the operating room environment is effectively prepared for the surgery, including having enough skilled and competent nurses. Similarly, pressure injury prevention and correct patient positioning can be achieved by using gel pads on areas and joints that are prone to injury and maintaining skin integrity. Also, advocating for the patients and ensuring that their dignity is maintained throughout the surgery are important roles of the nurse. Finally, reporting and documentation ensures that there is continuity of care and easy access to information when needed for better surgical outcomes.
By providing students with this fundamental knowledge, the study hopes to better prepare future nurses for the complexities of surgical care, so that they will be able to improve the safety of the patient. The study recommends future research on the role nurses play in the integration of technology for better patient outcome.