Abstract: Objective: To investigate the status quo of knowledge and protective behavior to surgical smoke among nurses in operating room. Methods: The operating room nurses from 26 hospitals in China were selected to carry out an online questionnaire survey. Results: The average score of the basic knowledge of surgical smoke was 74.01±2.62. The average score of the surgical smoke protective behavior was 55.02±3.13. Working years was the impact factor of the surgical smoke knowledge. Working years and technical title were the impact factors of the surgical smoke protective behavior. Conclusion: The nurses in operating room had insufficient knowledge about surgical smoke, and their protective behavior regarding surgical smoke need to be improved. Managers should have effective equipments to remove the surgical smoke and provide healthy environment to nursing staff.

Key words: operating room; nursing staff; surgical smoke; smoke removal system