Exploring OR nurse decision making

Editor's Note

Perioperative nurses play an essential role in patient safety and surgical efficiency. But how exactly? Findings from a qualitative study published in the December issue of AORN Journal breaks down how perioperative nurses navigate decisions in high-pressure environments.

This study involved semi-structured interviews with 11 perioperative nurses working in both public and private hospitals to identify key decision-making patterns. Relevant themes in the interviews covered:

*Responsibility for patient safety
*Protocolized and shared decision-making
*Emergency decision-making
*Anticipation
*Experience

A key finding from these interviews, per the study, is that operating room nurses balance strict adherence to protocols with situational adaptability, however, they are often constrained by hierarchical structures.

The authors concluded that perioperative nurses develop functional independence through experience, vigilance, and protocol-guided practice, particularly in emergency situations. They suggested that perioperative nurse training programs should integrate both structured protocols and adaptive decision-making strategies. A future area for research to explore could involve exploring interventions to enhance perioperative nurse decision-making within surgical teams.