A national study: the use of specialty surgical teams

Perioperative nursing is changing in response to the increasing complexity of patient care during diverse, specialized surgical procedures. As a result, designated specialty surgical teams have developed to fulfill needs of patients, nurses and surgeons. This exploratory, descriptive study examined reasons for implementing specialty surgical teams, the frequency and RN composition of such teams and their benefits. Data concerning the prevalence and specific use of specialty surgical teams are necessary to validate and redefine the nature and role of specialized perioperative nurses. Results of the U. S. study generally paralleled the Missouri study although findings were not as pronounced. Clearly though, in both studies, specialty surgical teams are perceived very positively by study respondents.