265 - Perioperative Nurses' Perceptions of Challenges in Surgical Positioning

Description: Problem/

Purpose:
Surgical positioning is a critical step in perioperative care, directly impacting patient safety, comfort, and surgical outcomes. It requires coordinated teamwork among surgical, anesthesia, and nursing professionals. This study aims to explore perioperative nurses' perceptions of the challenges involved in surgical positioning practices.

Literature Review:
The literature highlights surgical positioning as a risk factor for adverse events such as pressure injuries and nerve damage. Despite the existence of international guidelines, including those from the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), clinical practice remains influenced by contextual factors such as communication, staffing, and time pressures. Nurses' perspectives offer valuable insight into the real-world dynamics of positioning in the operating room.

Research Question:
What challenges do perioperative nurses perceive in the process of surgical positioning?

Conceptual Framework:
This study is guided by Donabedian's quality of care model, exploring how structural conditions and processes affect outcomes related to surgical positioning.
Methodology:
A qualitative descriptive design is being used. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with Portuguese perioperative nurses from different hospital institutions. Participants will be selected through convenience sampling, aiming to capture diverse professional experiences and contexts.

Data Analysis:
Interview data will be transcribed and subjected to content analysis, following the methodological framework proposed by Bardin. An inductive approach will guide the coding process, with support from NVivo software to assist in organization and interpretation.

Preliminary Results/Expected Outcomes:
Although data collection is ongoing, the study is expected to identify recurring themes related to resource limitations, communication dynamics within the surgical team, organizational pressures, and ethical considerations regarding patient safety and dignity. These insights will help inform safer and more collaborative positioning practices.

Conclusions/

Discussion:
By exploring nurses' experiences and perceptions, this study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the multifactorial challenges in surgical positioning. Findings will support the development of institutional strategies to promote interprofessional collaboration and safety in perioperative care.

Perioperative Nursing Implications:
The study may inform future training programs, team-based simulation exercises, and policies that reinforce collaborative and safe positioning practices, aligned with international standards. Recognizing the shared responsibility for patient positioning is essential to improving outcomes and supporting the perioperative team.

Bibliographic

References:

AORN (Ed.). (2024). Guidelines for Perioperative Practice, 2024 Edition.

Wevling, A., & Ann–Chatrin Linqvist Leonardsen. (2024). Positioning the surgical patient – roles, responsibilities and challenges. A qualitative study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16278