Essential Design and Operational Strategies for a New Operating Room (OR): The Role of Surgical Nurses in Enhancing Outcomes

Background: Designing an operating room (OR) that supports optimal surgical outcomes requires prioritizing patient and employee safety. While research has focused on specific design elements such as airflow or equipment placement, there are minimal articles that combine multiple key design factors with the role of surgical nurses in implementing these features. Surgical nurses, defined as licensed nurses working in the OR, play a critical role in ensuring design elements support safe and efficient surgical care. Literature Review: This review highlights the potential key contributions of surgical nurses in OR design and operational readiness. From the beginning, surgical nurses help shape project goals utilizing best practices. They also promote patient safety by improving workflows, fostering effective communication in a noisy environment, and reinforcing safety protocols. Additionally, surgical nurses play an essential role in addressing environmental challenges and sustainability efforts, creating safer conditions for staff and patients. Finally, their contribution in transition and activation activities bring these components together, subsequently establishing an improved OR environment. Conclusion: This review underscores the importance of involving surgical nurses in OR design and operational readiness to optimize surgical outcomes, ensuring a safe, efficient, and adaptable environment.