Using competency-based education in the perioperative setting

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Operating room (OR) orientation quality is crucial for meeting Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) standards.
• Effective orientation ensures competent nursing staff in critical care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the quality of operating room (OR) orientation.
• To ensure adherence to JCAHO standards through curriculum review.
• To define clear expectations for OR nurses via competency-based education.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing OR orientation curriculum and educational resources.
• Implementation of competency-based education principles within a perioperative nursing program.

Main Results:

• The review process identified areas for quality improvement in orientation.
• Competency-based education provided a clear framework for OR nurse expectations.

Conclusions:

• A systematic review of educational resources improves OR orientation quality.
• Competency-based education is an effective strategy for defining OR nurse roles and meeting accreditation standards.