The impact of preoperative assessment on intraoperative nurse performance

A study was undertaken to test the feasibility and effectiveness of preoperative assessment by operating room nurses. The study addressed whether preoperative assessments influenced the circulator's intraoperative nursing care, what side benefits accrued, and what problems were generated. Nurse performance was evaluated in 100 cases. Although nurses who had performed preoperative assessments had higher total scores and mean, the difference was not statistically significant. Preoperative assessments could not be justified on the basis of improved circulator performance due to prior knowledge of the patient.