Student Nurses in the OR: Improving Recruitment and Retention

Abstract

Changes in nursing education have made it difficult for students to find or participate in perioperative clinical experiences, which makes it difficult for employers to find experienced perioperative nurses. We developed a perioperative preceptorship for senior-level nursing students, to provide them with the opportunity to learn RN circulator skills based on AORN’s Guidelines for Perioperative Practice. Senior nursing students had the opportunity to demonstrate critical thinking skills within the context of patient-centered care while integrating knowledge and skills learned in the classroom. The students applied the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in the OR setting during a required minimum 210-hour clinical commitment. We believe the course has been successful in providing the foundation needed to become a competent perioperative nurse, because, to date, all students who were hired are still employed in the OR.