The State of the Perioperative Nursing Specialty Workforce:: A Concern for Executive Nurse Leaders

Abstract

Executive nurse leaders with operational responsibilities over perioperative departments are faced with challenges in recruitment, retention, and educational preparedness in perioperative nurses. Establishing academic partnerships with hospital facilities and incorporating perioperative nursing education in undergraduate curricula is a successful approach to addressing recruitment and retention challenges. This article provides an overview based on the literature of the current state of the perioperative nursing workforce and offers recommendations for executive nurse leaders from health care facilities and academic institution to establish programs to address perioperative nurse workforce shortages. Executive nurse leaders with operational responsibilities over perioperative departments are faced with challenges in recruitment, retention, and educational preparedness in perioperative nurses. Establishing academic partnerships with hospital facilities and incorporating perioperative nursing education in undergraduate curricula is a successful approach to addressing recruitment and retention challenges. This article provides an overview based on the literature of the current state of the perioperative nursing workforce and offers recommendations for executive nurse leaders from health care facilities and academic institution to establish programs to address perioperative nurse workforce shortages. Rebecca Vortman, DNP, RN, CNOR, is clinical assistant professor in the Department of Population Health Nursing Science at the College of Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago, in Springfield, Illinois. She can be reached at [email protected] . Sara McPherson, PhD, RN, is clinical assistant professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science at the College of Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago.