The Entry of the Perioperative Nursing Data Set in Canada

The Perioperative Nursing Data Set (PNDS) describes how professional perioperative nurses intervene before, during, and after surgical procedures in any setting. Canadian nurses used the PNDS definitions and outcome statements to articulate to politically-sensitive administrators the value of the registered nurse at a time when they were desperately trying to reduce the overall hospital costs in staffing and material supplies. Although the PNDS has not been incorporated into many hospital documents, an example standardized plan of care from London, Ontario demonstrates an application in the author's former facility. The ultimate goal is to have a common language that supports decision making and continuous learning in every facet of Canadian perioperative care.