In search of perioperative nursing data elements.

A 14-member task force appointed by the AORN Board of Directors began the process of identifying perioperative nursing data elements in November 1993. During the ensuing two years, the task force members identified perioperative nursing intervention data elements, linked these data elements to specific patient outcomes, and asked 232 AORN members to validate the list of intervention data elements. This article explains the value of data elements to perioperative nurses, describes the consensus process used by the task force, and presents the Perioperative Nursing Data Elements: Interventions, Version 1.0.