Striving for excellence in the operating room
30/1/2025 | Johanne Søborg Hartmann, Operating Room Nurse and Clinical Nurse Specialist, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet
The healthcare system is facing a critical challenge in retaining and recruiting operating room nurses—an essential yet often underrepresented area. Operating room nurses must master both technical expertise and interpersonal skills while navigating high-pressure environments. Staff shortages and overwhelming workloads can compromise patient safety, making effective communication and psychological safety vital for cohesive team dynamics and fostering a culture of safety.
Motivated by these challenges, I decided to explore innovative solutions to improve daily practice and support my peers. This journey has led me to embark on a PhD focused on operating room nurse education and team psychological safety. My research investigates these crucial aspects using video material from operating rooms and debriefing sessions as teaching tools.
Adopting a multi-method approach, the study delves into various areas, including the Operating Room Black Box—a cutting-edge technology that synchronizes audio-visual, patient-related, and environmental data to assess team dynamics, technical skills, and interpersonal interactions. By combining human rating scales with AI-driven data analysis, this platform provides a detailed evaluation of operating room performance.
The research also explores burnout, resilience, and psychological safety among operating room nurses, offering valuable insights into their mental well-being. A qualitative component further examines the factors influencing nurse education and performance, uncovering challenges and opportunities for improvement.
This work addresses a significant gap, aiming to enhance training, resilience, and team collaboration, ultimately leading to improved healthcare outcomes.
A Cornerstone of the KEEPCARING Project
This PhD research is part of the broader KEEPCARING project, a visionary initiative funded by the European Union. KEEPCARING focuses on reducing stress and preventing burnout among healthcare professionals in EU hospital settings, particularly in surgical pathways.
The project combines non-digital, digital, and AI-driven solutions to address individual, team, and organizational stressors. By co-creating innovative interventions, KEEPCARING aims to foster a healthier, more resilient healthcare workforce—ensuring better care for patients and more sustainable healthcare systems.
Stay tuned as this research unfolds, paving the way for groundbreaking solutions to support healthcare professionals in their vital roles.
