Addressing the Perioperative Nursing Shortage Through Education: A Perioperative Imperative

Perioperative nurse leaders are facing an unprecedented nursing shortage. Very few baccalaureate nursing programs in the United States prepare graduates for perioperative nursing, and many current perioperative nurses are retiring from practice or leaving the field for other reasons. It is a challenge for nursing administrators to fill the vacant positions because it takes several months to orient a novice perioperative nurse and it involves significant costs. This article provides current information about perioperative nurse and leader shortages, discusses the effects of the shortages on patient safety and health care facility finances, and reviews the available literature about perioperative nursing education from both an academic and health care facility administrative perspective. In addition, this article presents strategies for addressing the nursing shortage and describes implications for clinical practice, education, and research.