The nurse manager's role in perioperative settings: An integrative literature review

Abstract

Aim: To describe the nurse manager's role in perioperative settings.

Background: The nurse manager's role is complex and its content unclear. Research in this area is scarce. We need to better understand what this role is to support the nurse manager's work and decision-making with information systems.

Evaluation: An integrative literature review was conducted in May 2018. Databases CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed and Web of Science were used together with a manual search. The review followed a framework especially designed for integrative reviews. Quality of the literature was analysed with an assessment tool. Nine studies published between 2001 and 2016 were included in the final review.

Key issue: The findings from the review indicate that the nurse manager's role requires education and experience, and manifests in skills and tasks. A bachelor's degree with perioperative specialisation is the minimum educational requirement for a nurse manager.

Conclusion: Research lacks a clear description of the nurse manager's role in perioperative settings. However, the role evolves by education. More education provides advanced skills and, thereby, more demanding tasks. Information technology could provide useful support for task management.

Implications for nursing management: These findings can be used to better answer the current and future demands of the nurse manager's work.

Keywords: integrative review; nurse managers; perioperative settings; role.