A Student Nurse Experience of an Intervention that Addresses the Perioperative Nursing Shortage

Abstract

Registered nurses are the largest group of professionals in the global healthcare system. The number of nurses is estimated to be 19.3 million throughout the world (Flinkman et al 2013). In the United States the need for registered nurses is growing. It has been predicted that 260,000 positions for registered nurses will remain unfilled by the year 2025 (Harris et al 2014) with a shortage of registered nurses projected to spread across the United States between 2009 and 2030 (Juraschek et al 2012). Compounding the projected nursing shortage is the increased attrition rate, which is as high as 61% within the first year (Pine & Tart 2007). There are several reasons for this shortage including supply and demand issues, projected changes to healthcare and the aging population. Additionally, the number of college graduates who have majored in nursing has not met the demand (Dunn 2014).

Addressing the Perioperative Nursing Shortage Through Education: A Perioperative Imperative

“…Prelicensure nurses have limited or no perioperative exposure; as a result, when they join a perioperative department, their orientation can take up to 12 months . The expected shortage of perioperative nurses may negatively affect hospital finances because orienting and educating inexperienced nurses can cost $88,000 per nurse in some areas of the United States .…”

“…Patients in perioperative settings require more intense nursing care and complex interventions and, unlike other hospital areas, the OR is a location where two staff members (ie, two RNs or one RN and one surgical technologist) are routinely assigned to one patient's care. Perioperative areas also are experiencing some nursing vacancies because of the work demands and inadequate staffing . Multidisciplinary bullying and lateral violence continue to plague the OR .…”

“…Documentation in the literature indicates that students benefit when they participate in a perioperative elective . Generally, any elective course may be worth two to six college credits and offered throughout the academic year depending on scheduling requirements.…”

“…Documentation in the literature indicates that students benefit when they participate in a perioperative elective . Generally, any elective course may be worth two to six college credits and offered throughout the academic year depending on scheduling requirements. Many elective courses include both didactic and clinical practice activities and usually limit enrollment to approximately 10 students, although one course in the literature accommodated 20 students and another accommodated 35 students …”

Operating room nurse residency and specialty educators: Paramount in the success of novice nurse retention

“…The demand for nurses is surpassing the supply around the world and especially impacts highly complex areas such as the operating room (OR), where specialized skills are needed to care for patients. [1] Specialty areas such as perioperative nursing are not currently included in undergraduate studies, unlike in diploma programs where nurses are fully trained in the clinical setting in all specialties. It is estimated that nearly 20% of those currently employed in the perioperative specialty area will retire in the next 5 years.…”