Perioperative Ergonomics

Perioperative nursing is complex demanding work—emotionally, intellectually, and physically. As the nursing workforce ages and health care facilities try to enhance the working environment for their staff and retain workers, the application of ergonomic principles and practices in the workplace will become even more important. The article discusses some of the efforts by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses and other national organizations to draw attention to the risk of the health care workforce for experiencing musculoskeletal disorders and other environmental risks, as well as their suggestions for making substantive changes in many operating rooms to retain a healthy workforce and address the ergonomic issues of importance to the future of the profession.