World Patient Safety Day: 17 September 2026
Every Patient, Every Day: The Vital Role of Perioperative Nurses in Patient Safety
World Patient Safety Day: 17 September 2026
A Message from the President of the International Federation of Perioperative Nurses (IFPN)
Dear IFPN Board Members, Member Association Representatives, and Colleagues,
The International Federation of Perioperative Nurses (IFPN) marks World Patient Safety Day 2026 by recognizing the dedication of perioperative nurses to providing safe, compassionate, and high-quality care to every patient, every day, and highlighting their essential contributions to patient safety.
This year's World Health Organization (WHO) theme, "Safe care for noncommunicable diseases," under the slogan "Safe care for life!", highlights the importance of protecting patients living with chronic conditions from preventable harm throughout their healthcare journey.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, account for approximately 74% of deaths worldwide. People living with these conditions often require complex treatments, repeated healthcare interventions, and lifelong care, increasing their vulnerability to preventable harm.
For perioperative nurses, this year's theme carries particular significance. Many patients undergoing surgery live with one or more chronic conditions that may increase surgical risks, complicate recovery, and require individualized care throughout the perioperative journey.
The Vital Role of Perioperative Nurses
Perioperative nurses play a vital role in protecting patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their healthcare journey. Every day, we contribute to patient safety through comprehensive preoperative assessment and preparation, safe intraoperative care, and continued support during postoperative recovery and discharge.
For patients living with NCDs, our daily practice includes identifying individual risks, addressing comorbidities, ensuring medication safety, preventing infections, and monitoring for complications. Effective communication, multidisciplinary collaboration, and continuity of care are integral to providing safe, high-quality care throughout the surgical journey.
Patient safety extends beyond the implementation of clinical protocols; it is a fundamental part of our professional practice and responsibility. By identifying risks, speaking up about safety concerns, and advocating for our patients, we contribute to a culture of safety every day. Continuing education, professional development, appropriate staffing, and supportive working environments are essential to maintaining and further strengthening this culture.
For perioperative nurses, patient safety is not simply a priority for one day; it is an integral part of our professional responsibility and daily practice, in every procedure, for every patient, every day.
Our Global Responsibility for Safer Surgical Care
As IFPN President, I am proud of the dedication and valuable contributions of our international perioperative nursing community to patient safety. Across diverse healthcare settings worldwide, perioperative nurses demonstrate their professional expertise, compassion, and commitment to protecting patients throughout their surgical journey.
Through our member associations, we continue to strengthen professional competencies, share knowledge and experiences, and promote international collaboration to advance perioperative patient safety. These collective efforts reflect the important role of our global nursing community in maintaining and continuously improving the quality and safety of surgical care.
World Patient Safety Day provides an opportunity to recognize the essential contributions of perioperative nurses and highlight the importance of the work we undertake every day. It also reminds us of the need to continuously improve our practices and address the specific needs of patients living with chronic diseases.
By learning from one another, supporting our colleagues, and working closely with patients and their families, we can further strengthen perioperative patient safety worldwide.
Together, as a global perioperative nursing community, we remain dedicated to protecting every patient, preventing avoidable harm, and making every surgical journey safer. Patient safety is not only our professional responsibility; it is at the heart of everything we do, every day.
Prof. Dr. Meryem Yavuz van Giersbergen
President
International Federation of Perioperative Nurses (IFPN)
2025–2027
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