Abstract: Presents findings from a study of nurse-to-nurse handover in the perioperative care setting. Describes current practices in nurse handover and surveys theatre and post-anaesthetic-care nurses from around NZ about their satisfaction with handover and whether it affects patient outcomes.

Abstract: This article presents a literature review of current research on perioperative nursing. Research studies are summarised. Overall findings include that there is a lack of exposure to perioperative nursing in undergraduate level, that expert nurses in the operating theatre make a positive economic and social contribution to patient outcomes, and there are barriers to registered nurses expanding their role in operating theatres.