The role of Clinical Nurse Specialist and the safety management in operating theatre during the COVID-19 pandemic: An integrative scoping review

The global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted discussions regarding the best approach to safely manage COVID-19 positive patients in the operating room. This study aimed to highlight the importance of "standardised clinical practice" and the role of the "Clinical Nurse Specialist" in treating COVID-19 positive patients in the operating room. Methods: A scoping review based on Arksey and O'Malley's methodology was conducted. Searches were conducted in Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies on perioperative management and the Clinical Nurse Specialist's role in COVID-19 surgeries. Manual searches included reference lists and Google Scholar. Two reviewers independently screened, selected, and included articles, assessing the risk of bias and methodological quality. From 278 identified records, 24 studies were included. Two key aspects emerged: clinical safety procedures and the Clinical Nurse Specialist's role in the perioperative setting. Standardised practice in the operating room is crucial, and the Clinical Nurse Specialist has significant potential in managing COVID-19 patients. Healthcare organizations should prioritize standardized practices for surgical assistance of COVID-19 patients. While global implementation of the Clinical Nurse Specialist is limited, their inclusion in perioperative settings could enhance care efficiency.