The Meaning of Intraoperative Errors: Perioperative Nurse Perspectives

Medical errors involve different health care professionals, are multifaceted, and can occur at the individual practitioner or system level. The conditions for errors vary in the health care environment; some practice areas may be more vulnerable to errors than others. Limited research exists that explores perioperative nursing errors. The purpose of this study was to describe and interpret the experiences of perioperative nurses related to intraoperative errors. We used the hermeneutic phenomenological method. Ten perioperative RNs participated in focus group interviews that we audio-recorded and transcribed. We analyzed data using thematic analysis, and three themes emerged that represent the essence of the experience of nurses involved in intraoperative errors: environment, being human, and moving forward. The findings support efforts to improve quality care and foster a culture of safety in the OR through strategies such as perioperative staff training, interprofessional team building, and controlling environmental factors that are distracting.