By Ólafur Guðbjörn Skúlason, Vice-President and EORNA Board member from ISORNA (Iceland) A Crisis in Numbers: What the OECD Tells Us The OECD’s Health at a Glance: Europe 2024 report reveals a growing crisis: healthcare systems across Europe are under strain due to workforce shortages and burnout. Recruitment and retention are particularly difficult in high-pressure…
By EORNA Treasurer, Manuel Valente Surgical smoke is an invisible but critical occupational hazard that many perioperative nurses and surgical teams face daily. With over 500,000 healthcare professionals exposed to surgical smoke each year in Europe, it’s time to take stronger action to protect all professionals and patients. The Hidden Dangers of Surgical Smoke During…
By Jaana Perttunen, EORNA President In the dynamic and high-stakes world of the operating room, staying current isn’t optional – it’s essential. For perioperative nurses, continuous learning is not just about professional development; it’s about ensuring the highest standards of patient safety and care. At EORNA, we believe that empowered, well-educated nurses are at the…
By Jaana Perttunen, EORNA President The gender pay gap in healthcare is real. And yes, it exists even in nursing – one of the most female-dominated professions in the world. Despite being the backbone of surgical care, perioperative nurses across Europe are still undervalued and underpaid. In 2025, that should no longer be acceptable. Why…
By EORNA Board The newly released Swiss film Late Shift is a powerful and poignant portrayal of a nurse’s life on the brink. Set over the course of a single night in a busy Zurich hospital, the story unfolds like a pressure cooker — a fast-paced, emotionally raw narrative that refuses to flinch from the…
By Ólafur Guðbjörn Skúlason, EORNA Vice-President Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) doesn’t make headlines every day, but it should. While the world has moved on from the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, another global health threat continues to grow quietly — one that risks undoing decades of medical progress. According to the OECD’s Health at a…
By Jaana Perttunen, EORNA President Europe is experiencing a profound demographic shift. By 2050, nearly one in three Europeans will be over 65, up from 21% today. People who reach 65 can now expect to live more than 20 additional years, yet more than half of these years are affected by chronic illnesses or disabilities,…
By Michael Elin, EORNA Treasurer The operating room of the future is increasingly intertwined with technology. Robot-assisted surgery, once a niche innovation, is now rapidly expanding across surgical disciplines. While some may ask, “Will robots take over the OR?”, the reality is far more nuanced — and full of opportunity for perioperative nurses. Robotic systems…
By Jaana Perttunen, EORNA President Across healthcare settings, the evidence is clear: higher levels of nursing education are associated with better patient outcomes. In perioperative care, where risk is concentrated and margins for error are small, education is not a luxury — it is a safety intervention. Patient safety is often discussed in terms of…
Ólafur Guðbjörn Skúlason, EORNA Vice-President Surgical safety is not the result of individual vigilance alone. It is built through education, standards, and systems — and perioperative nurses are central to that design. Every year, EPND reminds us that surgical safety begins with the professionals closest to the patient. Yet safety is too often framed as…
