Determinants of Perioperative Nurse Competencies in China: A Descriptive Predictive Study

Abstract Background Perioperative competency is essential for ensuring high-quality patient care, enhancing job performance, and maintaining effective healthcare operations. However, the determinants of perioperative nurse competencies remain underexplored. Aims This study aimed to identify predictors of perioperative competency among operating room (OR) nurses in Chinese tertiary hospitals, including special OR training, years of OR experience, work self-efficacy, resilience, individual empowerment, workplace bullying, and ethical climate. Methods A cross-sectional predictive study was conducted among 287 OR nurses from five tertiary hospitals in China using a multi-stage sampling method. Validated Chinese versions of the Perceived Perioperative Competency Scale-Revised, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Qualities of an Empowered Nurse Scale, Work Self-Efficacy Inventory, Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised, and Hospital Ethical Climate Survey were administered. Stepwise multiple linear regression was performed to identify significant predictors. Results Years of OR experience (β = 0.376, p < 0.001), special training (β = 0.550, p < 0.001), resilience (β = 0.190, p < 0.001), individual empowerment (β = 0.217, p < 0.001), work self-efficacy (β = 0.170, p < 0.001), and ethical climate (β = 0.147, p < 0.001) positively predicted perioperative competency, whereas workplace bullying showed a negative correlation (β = − 0.098, p < 0.001). Together, these factors accounted for 79.4% of the total variance in perioperative competency. Conclusion Modifiable factors such as resilience, self-efficacy, ethical climate, and empowerment significantly influence perioperative competency. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve nursing competency and patient outcomes.