Associations, unions and other institutions acting for the benefit of operating nursing in Poland

Introduction
The establishment of the first professional organizations of health care workers in Poland began in the interwar period. Scientific activity was simulated, despite the fact that the main goal of professional organizations was to provide various forms of professional self-help, vocational training, and to elevate the profession in the society.

Aim of the study
Presentation of the activities of associations and trade unions as well as other institutions working for operational nursing in Poland.

Material and methods
The study was conducted using the method of analysis of archival documents, with particular emphasis on registration documents and reports on the activities of organization.

Results
In Poland, the following organizations operate in the field of surgical nursing: the Polish Association of Scrub Nurses in Białystok, the Association of Orthopaedic Scrub Nurses in Warsaw, the Karkonosze Association of Scrub Nurses in Jelenia Góra, and the Society of Surgical Nurses and Midwives in Bydgoszcz. In 2003, the Polish National Union of Workers in the Operating Room and Intensive Care Anaesthesiology was registered in Lublin. Since 2011, at the request of the Minister of Health, a National Consultant in the field of surgical and operational nursing has been appointed, and in some provinces province consultants.

Conclusions
The activities for operating nursing in Poland are carried out by 4 professional associations and the trade union of the operating unit, anaesthesiology, and intensive care workers. Organizations cooperate with each other on a national basis, while on a European basis Polish scrub nurses are represented by the Polish Association of Scrub Nurses.