Intraoperative competence, more than the sum of its parts: A scoping review

Aim: To explore the holistic nature of intraoperative nurse competence and its assessment methods. Background: Safe and effective nursing care in the intraoperative setting requires specialised knowledge, skills and attributes. Understanding what makes a competent intraoperative nurse and how to measure it is necessary to set professional expectations and inform future education initiatives. Methods: A scoping review of peer-reviewed studies published from 2009 was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews guidelines. Results: Fifteen studies from eight different countries were included. Studies described similar competency domains, related to perioperative-specific technical skills and knowledge, and individual non-technical skills that enabled effective teamwork and collaboration. The Perceived Perioperative Competence Scale-Revised (PPCS-R) was the most frequently used assessment tool. Potential gaps in the competency domains included those related to patient assessment and cultural competence. Conclusion: Intraoperative nursing competence is complex and multidimensional, involving both technical and interpersonal capabilities. Challenges arise when assessing self-reported competence, and current approaches to measurement may need to expand their scope to ensure that competencies required for contemporary practice are adequately captured and measured.