Integrative Review of the Literature

Title: Safety of equipment and products in peri-operative nursing: an integrative review of the literature

Abstract:

Peri-operative nurses must be aware of the safety and security of their equipment. The perioperative nurse works in a high-pressure environment that requires precise task execution to guarantee positive outcomes. Safety issues associated with equipment or products in the perioperative setting may lead to negative events, which can compromise patient safety. This integrated review of literature was designed to find and synthesize current evidence about equipment and products safety in perioperative nursing. This review identified six research studies which were then analyzed for quality and relevance. While there has been some progress in improving equipment and product security in perioperative nursing, the findings suggest that more needs to be done to close the safety gaps and improve outcomes for patients.

Keywords: equipment safety, product safety, peri-operative nursing, patient safety, adverse events.

Introduction:

Perioperative nursing requires extensive skills and knowledge. Perioperative nurses provide efficient, safe care to surgical patients. Assuring the safety of products and equipment used in surgery is one of the most important aspects of perioperative care. Safety of equipment and products is essential in perioperative nursing because safety problems can result in adverse events which can harm patients. This integrative literature review aims to summarize the evidence regarding equipment and product security in perioperative nursing, and make recommendations to improve patient outcomes.

Methods:

A systematic review was conducted to determine and synthesize current evidence about equipment and products safety. PubMed CINAHL Scopus Cochrane Library were searched. Keywords included equipment safety and product safety. Peri-operative nursing was also searched, as well as adverse events. Inclusion criteria included primary research articles published in English between 2016 and 2021 that focused on product and equipment safety for peri-operative nurses. Exclusion criteria included studies which did not fit the inclusion criteria and studies that concentrated on different aspects of perioperative nurse.

After a preliminary search, 345 articles were found. Titles and abstracts of 12 documents met inclusion criteria. After assessing the eligibility of the study texts, six were chosen for final analysis. For primary research, the Critical Appraisal Skill Programme (CASP), a tool developed by the Critical Appraisal Training Institute for researchers to assess the quality of studies.

Results:

Six studies were selected to be included in the integrative literature review. They had mixed designs, which included observational, cross sectional and randomized controlled trial. Studies were carried out in various countries such as the United States of America, Canada, Australia and United Kingdom. The study focused on a variety of aspects related to equipment and product security in perioperative nursing. This included the use and labeling of surgical instruments as well as cleaning and disinfecting products.

Six studies found that equipment and product safety is a major concern in the perioperative nurse. According to the studies, adverse product and equipment events are caused by various factors such as human errors, faulty products, poor maintenance and inadequate labeling. These studies identified other gaps, including inadequate cleaning of equipment and insufficient training for staff.

Discussion:

According to the findings of an integrative literature review, equipment and product safety is a critical issue in perioperative nursing. These studies have identified a number of factors which contribute to the adverse effects associated with equipment and products. They include human error, defective equipment, insufficient maintenance and inadequate labeling. These studies identified several gaps in safety procedures, including inadequate cleaning of equipment and staff training, as well as inadequate communication between team members.