Statement of Problem: An integrated literature review was conducted to provide an understanding of perioperative stress, burnout, and resilience in today’s operating rooms.  Stress and burnout are a reality for nurses in the operating room.  Stressors come from a variety of contexts that include: the operating room environment, complexity of cases, in-experienced work-force, disruptive physicians, long call hours, and inadequate staffing models.  Sustained stress can have a negative impact on surgical nurses and lead to burnout syndrome.  Resilience is the ability for an individual to manage the effects of continued stress through adaptive behaviors that allows the person to function emotionally and physically normal despite the increased stressors.

Methodology:  An integrated literature was conducted to evaluate evidence-based information on the effects of perioperative nurse stress, burnout, and resilience in today’s operating room suites. Databases included Medline, Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Association of PeriOperative Nurses. Examination for causes of nurse burnout and techniques that can be implemented to build resilience in the high stress role of the perioperative nursing were reviewed.  Twenty articles met inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results/Findings:  There was a direct correlation between stress and burnout to resiliency among surgical nurses.  Continued stress can lead to burnout syndrome.  Nurses who experience burnout become emotionally and physically withdrawn.  Resilient nurses have the ability to overcome stress and adversity.  Resiliency programs promote self-efficacy, coping, and hope.  Surgical services managers can improve the overall surgical environment by decreasing stressors of staff.

Implications:  Reduced stressors and improved surgical environments promotes a positive work-place for surgical nurses.   Promotion of resiliency in surgical services helps nurses overcome stressors that may lead to eventual burnout.  Resiliency can be used as a tool to improve staff morale and maintain a positive working environment.

Support for Research:  None