Tennessee RN first assistant survey data--what types of perioperative education are needed?

Many nursing programs removed perioperative education from their curriculum as early as the late 1960s, and perioperative nursing is now experiencing the consequences. Fewer perioperatively educated graduates are available, the workforce of experienced perioperative nurses is aging, and multiple career opportunities are luring perioperative nurses from the OR and nursing in general. Surveys were conducted in Tennessee to determine the knowledge about perioperative nursing roles and responsibilities. These survey results demonstrate the need for nurses, nursing programs, and hospitals to collaborate in developing guidelines, programs, and evaluation processes based on national perioperative standards.