Introducing student nurses to operating department nursing.

Abstract

The shortage of nurses is a major problem faced by the National Health Service. This also impacts on the shortage of theatre nurses where lack of recruitment and retention are threatening their existence (Montgomery 1997). Recruitment has not previously posed a problem in the operating department where the author works, due to pre-registration diploma nurses (PRDN) being allocated to the department as part of their critical care placement. Many of these students have been appointed to work in the operating theatre once qualified. However, due to changes in nurse education, students are now able to choose their placement.