Assessment of the performance of operating room nurses in adhering to standard surgical positioning principles: An observational study in southern Iran

Background: Optimal patient positioning during surgery improves access to the surgical field and reduces the risk of tissue and nerve injuries. Failure to follow standard positioning principles may result in preventable complications. This study evaluated operating room nurses’ adherence to surgical positioning standards in southern Iran. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted from April to October 2024. One hundred operating room nurses were selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a checklist assessing adherence to positioning standards during 306 surgical procedures. Results: Overall adherence to positioning standards was good. The nurses demonstrated excellent compliance with lithotomy and lateral positioning standards, good compliance with prone positioning standards and average compliance with supine positioning standards. Adherence to general patient positioning principles was also satisfactory. Conclusions: Operating room nurses generally followed standard positioning principles. However, adherence in commonly used positions, particularly the supine position, requires improvement. Regular education and effective supervision may enhance compliance, improve perioperative care quality and reduce positioning-related complications.