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Operating Room Nurse Day
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ThuNov 14

Operating Room Nurse Day – November 14, 2024

Operating Room Nurse Day is celebrated every November 14. We cheer for the hardworking nurses who ensure a smooth surgery and contribute to saving lives around the world. Operating room nurses assist the surgeons by maintaining a sterile environment, preparing the patients and being alert to assist the surgeon at any point in time.

History of Operating Room Nurse Day

From caring patients to preparing operating theatre to sterilising instruments to assisting the doctors and attending to the families of patients, operating room nurses sure have a lot on their hands.

Nursing is dated as far back as 300 A.D. and was first used to describe wet nurses. Nurses became a recognised profession when the demand for medical care increased, and of course, the doctors needed helping hands or assistants. When hospitals had to be part of monasteries, the nursing responsibilities were taken up by nuns and monks. Nursing took a different turn in the 19th century when Florence Nightingale introduced a new system for nursing and hospitals.
In 1949, the need for specialized nurses in operating rooms was recognised, leading to a new department under nursing.

Operating room nurses, also called perioperative nurses, are responsible for care before, during and after surgical operations. Over the years, with the advancement in surgical medicine, perioperative nurses now take on different roles. The circulating nurse takes care of the patients during the surgery, the instrument nurse is responsible for keeping instruments sterile, handing them over when the surgeon needs it and taking count to ensure the surgeon does not leave an instrument in the patient, and the perianesthesia nurse takes post-operative care of the patient after recovery. The RN First Assistant is the surgeon’s assistant who is very qualified in providing extended perioperative nursing care. These crucial roles of nurses were recognized in 1989 by the Iowa State Governor, and have been celebrated since then.

Operating Room Nurse Day timeline

600 B.C.
The First Surgery

The first surgical operation was performed by Sushruta, an Indian physician.

1854
Pro Nurses

Florence Nightingale introduces a modern system for the nursing profession.

1970s
Bloody Dust

Sawdust is used on operating theatre floors to absorb blood.

1989
Ode to Nurses

The holiday is established by the Iowa state Governor, Terry Edward Branstad, to appreciate nurses who work in operation rooms.

Operating Room Nurse Day FAQs

What is an operating room nurse’s schedule like?

Operating room nurses work a standard of 12 hours per week. This may extend to 13–14 hours in times of emergency. 

What is the priority of an operating room nurse?

These nurses are to ensure the safety of the patients before and after surgery, that is, they are to control every factor that contributes to the patient’s state of health before and after an operation.

What is the difference between Nurses Day and Operating Room Nurse Day?

Nurses Day celebrates all nurses from their different departments, and this is on May 12. Operating Room Nurse Day is on November 14.

How To Observe Operating Room Nurse Day

  1. Send a gift

    Say thank you by sending an operating room nurse a gift. It could be wine, cake, flowers, cookies, or anything that will leave a smile on their face.

  2. Broadcast

    Since the holiday is not so popular, you can create awareness by telling people about it and celebrating it on social media with the hashtag #OperatingRoomNurseDay.

  3. Visit

    You can touch their hearts even more by visiting them in person and celebrating them with thank-you gifts.

5 Amazing Facts About Operating Rooms

  1. Loud surgery

    This fact counters the belief portrayed on TV, that all surgical operations are performed in silence when, in fact, it is loud and noisy.

  2. Play the music

    The operating doctor selects background music for the operation to aid in reducing the heart rate of patients and improve surgical accuracy.

  3. Cold room

    Operating theatres are normally set in low temperatures because of the light equipment.

  4. Indeed a theatre

    The operating theatre was really a theatre where people gathered to watch a doctor perform a surgery.

  5. "Time me!"

    Early surgeons assumed time was a more important factor than technique.

Why We Love Operating Room Nurse Day

  1. We are inspired

    The hard work of these nurses contributes a lot to the success of an operation. We are inspired by their good work.

  2. Our kids are inspired

    When the good work of nurses is acknowledged, our kids are inspired to become like them when they grow up.

  3. We are reassured

    This day is a reminder that we can be calm whenever we have a loved one undergoing surgery, because these angels are right there, ensuring it is successful.

Operating Room Nurse Day dates

YearDateDay
2024November 14Thursday
2025November 14Friday
2026November 14Saturday
2027November 14Sunday
2028November 14Tuesday

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