Date of Conferral

8-4-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Cara Krulewitch

Abstract

This Doctor of Nursing Practice project focuses on modernizing an acute care hospital’s surgical suite, enhancing environmental safety, and supporting the growing complexity of surgical care. As surgical procedures become more advanced, the physical environment must evolve to maintain sterile technique and reduce microbial presence. Current operating room configuration, characterized by overcrowding and outdated ventilation systems, introduces environmental risks that compromise patient safety and limit perioperative efficiency. Modernization is essential to align the surgical environment with contemporary safety expectations and organizational performance goals. The proposed initiative includes a comprehensive renovation and expansion of surgical spaces, integrating advanced air decontamination technologies, and improved airflow management. Internal performance trends indicate that postoperative infection rates exceed benchmarks, signaling an urgent need for intervention. These factors reinforce the importance of upgrading the surgical environment to protect patient outcomes and strengthen organizational sustainability. Evidence supports innovative lighting, air quality, and space management technologies to improve patients' outcomes. These systems target particle sizes most associated with bacterial transmission, making them highly relevant in high-risk procedural settings. Their integration into the renovated surgical suites is expected to improve environmental control and reduce infection risk. Quality and efficiencies enhance patients' health quality, mitigating undue costs and suffering whilst enhancing equitable access to surgical resources preventing delays in accessing quality care locally.

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