“Why?” This is an incredibly powerful question. It’s a question that causes us to think. It forces us to explore. And the answers we receive enable us to process the world around us. We ask the “why” questions in every facet of our lives, and if you’ve ever been around a small child, you know that they ask “why?” more often than we can really provide answers! 

But, Why? 

As a new OR nurse, I asked so many questions, and many of them started with, “But, why?” I needed to understand the why behind what we were doing so that I could better implement what we were doing. And I asked a lot of questions! 

In the beginning, I wasn’t really focused on anything other than getting through orientation; mastering the enormous amount of content that comes with being a perioperative nurse; and, honestly, just surviving each day (without embarrassing myself). There was so much to learn! 

But as time went by, and as my confidence and knowledge grew, I was able to focus more on the environment around me. I could take a step back and see perioperative nursing as something bigger than just a checklist of skills to be mastered.   

Eventually I could circulate or scrub a case on my own, and I found my voice to advocate for my patients. I finally understood the various surgical positions and why correct positioning mattered, and I could prep a surgical area without fear of making a mistake. I learned the charting system and understood the value of correct documentation. And I found that, even without thinking, I could calm an anxious patient and comfort a nervous parent. 

I realized that everything I did in the OR was contributing to the overall patient experience and to the high-quality, safe, and effective care that all of us hope to provide. The part I was playing was important and could positively affect the patient’s outcome. It was a recognition that it’s not just the surgery itself that determines a positive outcome, but also the actions of each of us as the patient moves through the perioperative experience that contribute to those positive outcomes.  

An “Aha!” Moment 

This realization enabled me to answer the “why” question for myself. I was able to move past the checklists and the skills mastery and search for the real reasons that motivated me. First, I asked myself, “Why do I work in the OR?” But to answer that question, I also had to answer two additional questions: 

The answers to the "what" questions ultimately enabled me to answer the "why" question for myself.  

Two Whats and a Why 

To me, working in the OR is about more than just getting cases finished, stocking cabinets, clocking in and out, and drawing a paycheck. Of course, I enjoy a well-stocked room, cases that get finished on time, and my paycheck. But while I enjoy these things, they don’t feed my soul. They don’t speak to my purpose and motivation for working in the OR.  

Surgery is a vulnerable experience for every patient, and they depend on us to care for them, to advocate for them, to be their voice when they don’t have one, and to return them safely to their loved ones when their procedure is finished. This is a responsibility that I don’t take lightly, and it guides my practice in the operating room. My understanding and acceptance of this responsibility motivates me. 

I find my purpose in the knowledge that I am making a difference. I want every patient I interact with to have a positive experience from the time I first meet them until the time that I hand off care to a nurse in the recovery room. I don’t ever want a patient to feel like they are alone, they’re not heard, or they aren’t safe.  

Knowing my purpose and my motivation enables me to answer the question: Why do I work in the OR? I work in the OR because the care that I provide makes a difference in the lives of my patients and in their surgical outcomes. I work in the OR because caring for surgical patients feeds my soul. I work in the OR because I find purpose, motivation, and value in being the patient’s advocate, in being their voice, and in being the voice of comfort when they’re anxious or afraid. This is why I work in the OR. This is my why.  

Finding Your Why 

As you’re adjusting to working in Perioperative Services and learning everything you can about perioperative care, you can get lost in the checklists, skills mastery, and the general overwhelm of the orientation process. But I would encourage you to take a step back, and ask yourself the same questions: 

Honestly, your answers might be different from mine, and that’s ok. Everyone has a different purpose and motivation. Your why will be unique to you. You might even find that your answers to these questions change over time. But at the end of the day, it’s your why that will see you through when the days are long and the cases are hard. Knowing your why will make the hard days bearable and the easy days enjoyable. 

So, take some time to reflect and discover what it is that motivates you. Dig deep and find your purpose. And answer this question for yourself, “Why do I work in the OR?” You’ll be surprised at how your perspective will change when you find your why. 

AORN Resources 

Open access:

Finding My Calling: 32 Years of Passion and Purpose in the Operating Room