The value of a perioperative nurse

Abstract

I was not drawn to perioperative nursing because of a love of surgery (though this was something I had, and still have). And it wasn’t a love of the changing nature of the environment (even though this too was a factor) or the sheer spectacle of the perioperative environment (although I did find it alluring). It was, in fact, because of a situation I witnessed years ago when a terrified young woman faced the prospect of surrendering her dignity, her control and her self to the surgical team.