Beyond technical competence: supporting emotional regulation and psychological safety in high-acuity OR training

Practice-informed observational study: The operating room is a high-stakes clinical environment where urgency, precision, and rapid decision-making are essential. Communication is often brief and directive, shaped by time constraints and patient safety priorities. While effective for efficiency, such communication styles may be perceived by learners as abrupt or psychologically unsafe. Psychological safety—defined as the ability to engage without fear of humiliation or punishment—has been identified as a critical factor in learning and team performance. In perioperative education, reduced psychological safety may lead to heightened anxiety, impaired learning, and decreased confidence among novice nurses. Emerging evidence suggests that mindfulness and emotional regulation strategies can enhance resilience in high-stress healthcare environments. However, limited literature explores the integration of holistic nurse coaching within perioperative education to prepare learners for the emotional and cognitive demands of the OR. I am in hopes to introduce a curriculum innovation incorporating brief mindfulness and grounding practices to support learner preparedness and explore its observed impact.