Operating room nurses' experience about patient cares for laparotomy surgeries: A phenomenological study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Surgical Care
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Laparotomy surgeries present unique challenges for patient care.
• Operating room nurses play a critical role in ensuring patient safety and well-being during complex surgical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and explain the lived experiences of operating room nurses providing patient care during laparotomy surgeries.

Main Methods:

• Analytical phenomenological method.
• Purposeful sampling of ten operating room nurses.
• In-depth, semi-structured interviews and van Manen's six-step analysis.

Main Results:

• Three main themes emerged: positive patient care, physical safety preservation, and consideration of patient vulnerability.
• Six sub-themes included responsibility, holistic care, readiness standards, physical care, team malpractice, and care context.

Conclusions:

• Operating room nurses' experiences encompass a positive outlook on patient care, safeguarding physical safety, and acknowledging patient vulnerability.
• These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of nursing care in the operating room setting.