Quality of Nursing Care Provided to Patients in the Operating Room, Based on Ministry of Health Standard of Care

Abstract Background: Nurses play an important role in preserving the health of the patients, and one of a very critical area of nursing that can be exciting and provide a lot of direct patient care is working as an operating room nurse. So the operation nurse must be highly qualified to provide the patient with high quality nursing care.
Aim: This study assessed the quality of nursing care provided to patients in the operating room at Al-Ahrar Zagazig General Hospital.
Design: A descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized. Sample: A sample of 40 nurses working in the operating room in two shifts, for observation of their performance as (scrub and circulating).
Setting: The study was conducted from eleven operating rooms Al-Ahrar Zagazig General in the Hospital.
Methods: Used two checklists: Inventory checklist for infrastructure, environmental safety and presence of policies and records; and an observation checklist for scrub and circulating nurse performance. Results: The results demonstrated major deficiencies in OR general policies, although the infrastructure was generally adequate. Scrub nurses' performance is mostly inadequate, but is better compared with circulating nurses. It is influenced nurses' personal and job characteristics.
Conclusion: There was low on the performance of nurses due the absence of clear regulations or guidelines and common procedures as well as the absence of continuous training and education programs for the nurses.
Recommendation: Create a clear written job description, and provide continuous training to improve communication and additional skills.