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KEYWORDS Nursing, Operating room, Practice, Satisfaction, Work environment
Concerns about pending retirement of nurses working in the operating room (OR) are undeniable. The nurses' work environment and level of perceived support is part of the equation of why a nurse may choose to retire or stay hi the workforce. This study compares nurses' perceptions of the work environment between OR nurses and nurses who work hi other type units; and compares the work environment perceptions of OR nurses between institutions of two sizes (<300 beds and >300 beds). Findings include: OR nurses have better perceptions of their work environment than nurses in other type units and OR nurses in smaller hospitals are more satisfied with their work environment, workload and perceptions of organisational support. Implications for OR work environments are discussed.
Introduction
The nursing shortage is well documented, both domestically and internationally, for nurses working within and external to the operating department (Booth 2002, Leske 2003, Ruiz 2006). The impact of future operating room (OR) nurse shortages may have serious implications for any institution or community. Proactive strategies to retain experienced nurses within the operating room have proven to be valuable and must take into consideration the many, varied and evolving roles that operating room nurses perform on a daily basis (Paulson 2006).
Unique concerns specific to recruiting and retaining nurses within the operating room environment include: the aging OR nurse workforce; the large number of practising OR nurses trained within the hospital setting over a three year period (i.e. diploma prepared); the rapid pace of technological change within the operating suite and other unique safety issues (Leske 2003). A vast majority of the nurses working in the OR are middle to late career professionals whose age can place them at greater risk for injury or the possibility of being less physically mobile due to injury disability (Hansson 2002). Retaining mid to late career OR/theatre nurses is also important because these experienced professionals have greater skill that they have developed over time and a greater ability to assess their own competency which is essential in maintaining high standards of care (Meretoja 2004).
Effect of retirement on recruitment
The retirement of the diploma-prepared nursing staff will have immediate implications for recruitment Currently many two...