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 the responsibility of individuals rather than the outcome of well‑designed systems. In reality, safe surgery is engineered long before the first incision.

International organisations, including the World Health Organization, emphasise that preventable surgical harm is largely systemic. Standardised processes, clear communication pathways, and competent teams are among the most effective safeguards. Perioperative nurses operate at the intersection of these elements.

From instrument management and environmental controls to time‑out procedures and postoperative handover, perioperative nurses help translate policy into practice. Evidence from perioperative research shows that adherence to standards and checklists improves outcomes only when teams are properly trained and supported.

Designing safety also means designing education. The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and similar bodies have long highlighted the importance of structured perioperative education in reducing errors and improving team performance.

For EORNA, EPND is not a one‑day campaign but a reminder of a year‑round responsibility. Safety is sustained through investment in people, systems, and learning.

Call to action This EPND, reflect not only on individual practice but on how your organisation designs safety — and where perioperative nurses are empowered to lead that design.

References World Health Organization. Safe Surgery Saves Lives. AORN. Guidelines for Perioperative Practice. Weiser et al. Effect of a surgical safety checklist on morbidity and mortality. NEJM.