Top 10 Patient Safety Issues: What More Can We Do?

A 2012 survey of AORN members identified the top 10 safety issues reported by perioperative nurses. These nurses are in a unique position to understand the errors and the unreported near misses that occur in the OR. For each of the top-rated safety issues that RNs identified, we discuss the evidence of risk and contributing factors and make targeted recommendations for further improvement in perioperative safety with the goal of mitigating risk and improving patient outcomes.