Interprofessional Collaboration in the OR: A Qualitative Study of Nurses' Perspectives

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in the OR enhances safe and effective patient care. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore perioperative nurses' perspectives on their contributions to IPC. We conducted a secondary analysis of 19 semistructured interviews with perioperative RNs and completed inductive thematic analysis with subsequent categorization of the themes into the Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Patient-Centred Practice Framework. Nurses expressed the importance of being heard through effective communication, feeling confident in their role, being aware of interdependent roles, and sharing a common understanding. From nurses' perspectives, use of structured processes enabled organization of interdisciplinary patient care. Nurses showed leadership skills when they anticipated the needs of the team and recognized they needed support to develop these skills. They contributed to IPC through their shared understanding of common goals, leadership skills in the OR, and active involvement in delivering structured processes.