Operating room nurses' experiences of maintaining sterile technique: a qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Surgical Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Operating room (OR) nurses are vital for preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) through sterile technique.
• Persistent challenges in maintaining sterility arise from systemic factors and interpersonal dynamics.
• Understanding OR nurses' experiences is key to improving patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of OR nurses in maintaining sterile technique.
• To identify challenges, emotional burdens, and teamwork dynamics affecting sterility.
• To gather recommendations for enhancing sterile technique practices.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study utilizing semi-structured interviews.
• 12 OR nurses from a Turkish university hospital participated.
• Content analysis was applied to transcribed interview data.

Main Results:

• Key themes included systemic challenges (e.g., rushed schedules, staff shortages), teamwork issues (e.g., non-compliance, communication breakdowns), and emotional burden (e.g., stress, anxiety).
• Nurses reported a strong sense of moral responsibility for patient safety.
• Recommendations focused on structured training, improved communication, and appropriate staff selection.

Conclusions:

• OR nurses encounter substantial obstacles in maintaining sterile technique.
• Organizational inefficiencies, interpersonal conflicts, and emotional stress significantly impact sterile practices.
• Enhancements in support systems, communication, and training are recommended to improve sterile technique and patient safety.