AORN conducted its 23rd annual compensation survey for perioperative nurses in June and July of 2025. A multiple regression model was developed to examine the relationship between base salaries for perioperative nurses and several factors, such as job title, geographic region, education level, years of experience, and certification. Other forms of compensation, such as on-call compensation, overtime, bonuses, shift differentials, and benefits, were also examined. Economic trends in perioperative nursing, the nursing shortage, and sources of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction are additionally discussed.

A patient's initial encounter with the OR nurses is essential to the way patients feel in the OR. This qualitative study employed a hermeneutic approach to explore the experiences of OR nurses regarding presence during patient encounters. After conducting 16 individual interviews, seven themes were identified. The themes elucidated the value of presence for nurses in their patient interactions. Presence requires nurses to be open to perception and strike a balance between intimacy and distance, respecting the various ways in which patients manage their feelings of anxiety and loss of control. Task-centered care impedes the capacity to be present because this kind of care prioritizes efficiency, productivity, specialization, and technology. To improve clinical practice, a shift is needed toward more patient-centered care in the OR and at an organizational health care system level.

Operating room nurses (ORNs) play a crucial role in ensuring patient safety and surgical efficiency. Their decision-making processes are influenced by protocols, experience, and collaboration with surgical teams. However, little research has described how ORNs navigate these decisions in high-pressure environments. This qualitative study involved semistructured interviews conducted with 11 ORNs from public and private hospitals. Thematic analysis was conducted using an inductive approach to identify key decision-making patterns. Themes included responsibility for patient safety, protocolized and shared decision-making, emergency decision-making, anticipation, and the role of experience. Operating room nurses balance strict adherence to protocols with situational adaptability, often constrained by hierarchical structures. The findings highlight how ORNs develop functional independence through experience, vigilance, and protocol-guided practice, particularly in emergency situations. Training programs should integrate both structured protocols and adaptive decision-making strategies. Future research should explore interventions to enhance ORN decision-making within surgical teams.

Pressure injuries are a known complication during surgery, especially in patients positioned laterally under general anesthesia. This study investigated the relationship between preoperative transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and postoperative skin injuries in patients undergoing thoracoscopic pneumonectomy. A prospective observational study was conducted in 86 patients aged 20 years or older. Preoperative assessments included TEWL; stratum corneum hydration; and skin temperature, moisture, and pH at high-risk sites. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to evaluate predictive factors. Preoperative TEWL was significantly associated with postoperative skin injuries (R = 0.545, B = -0.094; 95% confidence interval, -0.161 to -0.037; P < .001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified a TEWL cut-off of 19.5 g/m/h, with sensitivity of 0.500 and specificity of 0.903. These findings suggest that TEWL may indicate patients at risk for postoperative skin injuries, and early preventive strategies may reduce the incidence of these injuries in high-risk patients.

Time outs during surgery are designed to enhance patient safety, yet the use of standardized intraoperative time outs remains understudied. This nationwide cross-sectional survey explored how intraoperative time outs are used and perceived by OR nurses across all surgical specialties in Denmark. Most respondents had more than four years of experience and regularly assisted with emergency surgeries. Although nearly all were familiar with preoperative checklists, 76% indicated that structured intraoperative time outs were not performed during routine or emergency procedures. Furthermore, although 64% of nurses observed changes in surgical strategy during procedures, only 27% reported that a predefined plan for such changes was in place. Intraoperative discussions often focused on the patient's clinical condition, with less attention on communication and collaboration. These findings suggest that standardized intraoperative time outs are infrequently used in Danish surgical practice. Implementing structured time outs during surgery may improve communication, care quality, and patient safety.