The nursing profession, while deeply rewarding, is fraught with unique stressors that can significantly impact mental health and well-being. This article aims to provide an overview of the problem, highlight key risk factors, and outline actionable prevention steps.

Periop nurses carry a weight of responsibility that extends far beyond the sterile environment. Periop nursing demands expertise, focus, and critical thinking under pressure within a high-stress environment. Daily encounters with trauma, patient suffering, and life-or-death situations make perioperative nurses susceptible to vicarious trauma (VT). This article provides perspective on VT, examines its relevance to perioperative nursing, and offers strategies to mitigate its effects.

Becoming a nurse in the OR is a big step! It's exciting, but it's also normal to feel stressed or anxious as you get used to this new environment.

Learn four steps that you can take to effectively develop an assertive attitude that will allow you to be the advocate that you need to be in the OR—both for your patients and for your team members.

Codes are very stressful and emotional situations for everyone involved. Regardless of the outcome, sometimes you must keep going with your day.

Take care of yourself when going through loss: participate in debriefs, talk with a friend or therapist, take a break, and learn what you can to keep growing.

A message of encouragement and support for novice perioperative nurses.

A message of encouragement and support for novice perioperative nurses.

A message of support and advice for novice perioperative nurses.

One nurse shares the time she spoke up about a missing lap sponge and reminds novice nurses to listen to their surgical conscience and speak up for their patients.

It is important to identify at least one thing a day that was positive. In a short amount of time, you will be amazed at the perioperative nurse you have become.