Perceived barriers and enablers when choosing perioperative nursing: A qualitative study of nursing students.

Background: Healthcare systems worldwide face critical shortages of perioperative nurses. This study investigated factors influencing undergraduate nursing students’ career decisions in perioperative nursing after completing a mandatory perioperative course and professional practice pathway. Methods and materials: A qualitative descriptive research design with a constructivist epistemology and experiential learning conceptual framework was used to develop six open-ended survey questions. Results: Seventy final-year Bachelor of Nursing students completed the survey with a response rate of 20% (n=70/353). Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The results revealed that several perceived enablers and barriers influenced their choice of perioperative nursing as a career. Conclusion: Positive mentoring and supportive environments were enablers, while some negative workplace cultures created barriers that overrode their initial enthusiasm. Voluntary operating theatre (OT) workshops created interest and excitement. Despite some negative placement experiences, most participants preferred the mandatory pathway over an elective option, highlighting the importance of exposure to the specialty regardless of career intentions. The study’s results emphasise the need for cultivating respectful and encouraging clinical settings to help secure our future perioperative nurses.