Parsons, MatthewNgatia, Judy Diane2025-11-072025-11-072025https://hdl.handle.net/10289/17763Background: The global nursing shortage has highlighted vulnerabilities within the Aotearoa-NZ health system. Within large acute hospitals, the level of nursing specialisation within perioperative care (preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative) often means that nurses do not have the skillsets to operate across multiple areas and instead focus solely in one area of practice. Issues arise when departments within perioperative services become challenged, either through increased demand or staff shortages. Being able to relocate nurses across the service according to highest demand is important, but often not possible if specialised nurses lack the skills required of working within other areas. Objective: This study aims to explore the creation of a multi-skilled, agile perioperative Registered nurse equipped with skills to work across the perioperative department in Waikato Hospital. Participants: The study included two groups of participants. The first consisted of 14 health professionals (Nurse executives, n=4; Nurse operation managers, n=1; Senior registered nurses, n=2; Intermediate registered nurses, n=2; Junior registered nurses, n=2; and Senior specialist nurses, n=3). The second group (survey) consisted of registered nurses at differing levels within the perioperative department (n=88). Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed in this study. Qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews with health professionals working in the perioperative department was analysed using a general inductive method of enquiry. Online surveys were analysed statistically using qui squared and ANOVA to explore the relationship between satisfaction and ability to work across different areas in the perioperative service. Results: Five key themes emerged from the interviews: (i) Teamwork and role understanding; (ii) The current nursing configuration versus the desirable configuration; nursing skills; (iii) Knowledge and holistic care; and (iv) Leadership; and barriers to change. No statistically significant differences were identified between any of the variables. Conclusion: The absence of well-organised training for nurses, especially those in specialised areas, poses a significant challenge to develop a flexible workforce. To proceed further, the service should consider developing a training programme, accept cross-training as a method of career development and consider multi-skilling as an essential core part of the of the perioperative workforce.enAll items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.‘perioperative department’‘interdisciplinary care’‘perioperative care continuum’‘skill synergy’‘multidisciplinary approach’‘siloed care’‘perioperative care integration’‘nursing cross-training’‘role integration’‘multi-skilled perioperative nurse’‘transferable skills’and ‘cross-training’Thesis