Governing the surgical count through communication interactions: Implications for patient safety

Abstract

Background: Intermittently, the incidence of retained surgical items after surgery is reported in the healthcare literature, usually in the form of case studies. It is commonly recognised that poor communication practices influence surgical outcomes. Aim: To explore the power relationships in the communication between nurses and surgeons that affect the conduct of the surgical count. Methods: A qualitative, ethnographic study was undertaken. Data were collected in three operating room departments in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. 11 operating room nurses who worked as anaesthetic, instrument and circulating nurses were individually observed during their interactions with surgeons, anaest..