Trends in operating department nursing. The role of the patient advocate.

Within the operating department the nurse is seen to take on the traditional role as a member of an integrated theatre team. A team can be defined as group of two or more people who recognise common goals and co-ordinate their efforts to achieve them. The operating department team's shared goal is: "the efficient and effective delivery of care with minimal trauma to the individual patient for the relief of suffering, the restoration of bodily function, a favourable post-operative outcome, contributing to the patient's optimal health and return to society, or death with dignity".