Nurse - Operation Theatre

• Demonstrates understanding of and applies the roles and responsibilities of the instrument and circulating nurse in accordance to Manipal Policies, Operating Room and other Procedural Areas - Handling of Accountable Items Standard Procedures.
• Demonstrates competence to perform the role of instrument and circulating nurse. This includes knowledge of Manipal standards, principles of aseptic technique, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, knowledge of procedures performed and instrumentation required for each procedure, infection control principles, care, cleaning and maintenance of surgical instruments, medico-legal requirements, resource and waste management.
• Be familiar with daily theatre list and utilize time management skills to ensure requirements of equipment and instrumentation is available in advance to reduce or eliminate delays in the flow of the list.
• Demonstrate a systematic and planned approach to all activities to meet the needs of the patient to ensure a positive outcome.

 

This includes:

 

a) Confirming patient identification and consent in accordance with Manipal Process.

b) Being able to identify potential risks and take appropriate action to minimize risk.

c) Perform in critical events in accordance with policies for emergency situations.

d) Checking all equipment, instruments and sterile supplies are functioning and available.

e) Monitor patient transfer and positioning for surgical procedures.

f) Undertake the sterile set up immediately prior to the commencement of each procedure.

g) Perform the surgical count with the circulating nurse in accordance with Manipal standards and anticipate the needs of the surgical team.

h) Report any and all breaks in aseptic technique and initiate corrective action.

i) Demonstrate compliance with and adherence to Manipal Cleaning and Disinfecting and Sterilizing Reusable Medical and Surgical Instruments.

 

Anaesthetic Role:

 

- Be able to identify potential risks and take appropriate action to minimize risk.

- Perform in critical events in accordance with policies for emergency situations.

- Maintain accountability for their actions when functioning in the role of anaesthetic nurse by practicing within the Manipal and applicable standards.

- Develop and maintain the necessary skills to collaborate with the anaesthetist by providing support for the safe administration of anaesthesia, and able to provide effective back up during critical situations by:

a) Collaborating with the anaesthetist during preparation, induction, maintenance and emergence phases of anaesthesia.

b) Collaborating with the anaesthetist to provide patient focused nursing care during the phase of anaesthesia including assessment and monitoring, maintenance of fluid balance, assessment for hazards to patient and personnel, provide equipment and supplies for anticipated and unanticipated critical events.

c) Collaborating with the anaesthetist to ensure a smooth emergence from anaesthesia which will include assessment of patients physiological parameters, maintaining a clear airway, pain level and fluid balance.

• Demonstrate a systematic and planned approach to meet the needs of the patient for desired outcomes, this includes:

a) Clear and open communication with all members of the team.

b) Compliance with Manipal Correct Patient, Correct Procedure and Correct Site.

c) Ensuring appropriate and available diagnostic images.

d) Assessing allergies and sensitivities and fasting status of the patient.

e) Ensuring all equipment and supplies required for anaesthesia are available and functioning prior to the commencement of anaesthesia.

f) Assist with patient transfer and positioning for surgery.

g) Recognize and respond to changes in the condition of the patient.

h) Recognize peri operative complications and respond appropriately.

i) Anticipate the needs of the anaesthetist.

j) Comply with Manipal OT standards for reprocessing of reusable instruments and equipment.

 

Post Anaesthetic Care Role:

 

• Demonstrate competence required for effective and safe patient care following anaesthesia including patent airway techniques, obstructive airway intervention, knowledge of advanced life support techniques, patient monitoring and resuscitation, pharmacology, management and control of acute pain, nausea and vomiting, temperature regulation, life threatening complications, infection control principles and practices.

- Be able to identify potential risks and take appropriate action to minimize risk.

- Perform in critical events in accordance with policies for emergency situations.

• Demonstrate skills and knowledge of the equipment and instruments used in both routine and emergency care of the post-operative patient. Being aware of clinical limitations and seek medical advice and support.

- Maintain accountability for all actions in the delivery of nursing care in the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit and aware of and comply with protocols, policies and standards to provide safe and effective patient care.

- Ensure a verbal handover is received from the anaesthetist and the peri operative nurse involved in the intra operative care of the patient.

- Documentation of care is clear, contemporaneous and comprehensive as part of the patient medical record.

• Demonstrates vigilance in the assessment and management of the patient throughout their post anaesthesia recovery period.

- Ensure the healthcare facility discharge criteria are met and a comprehensive handover is provided from the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit to the receiving ward and safe patient transfer practices are utilized.

 

Step Down Role:

 

- Utilizes standards outlined by Manipal.

- Maintains competency and skills required for effective and safe patient preparation and care in the pre and post-operative period through to discharge from the Step Down Unit.

- Be able to identify potential risks and take appropriate action to minimize risk.

- Perform in critical events in accordance with policies for emergency situations.

- Shows knowledge of pharmacology and the equipment required in the care of the patient during the preparation for surgery and post-operative care.

• Demonstrates a systemic and planned approach to all activities to meet the needs of each patient. This includes:

a) Checking patients Recommendation for Admission and pre admission notes to ensure that all preparation work has been completed prior to arrival.

b) Ensuring the patient has followed all pre-operative instructions; this may include fasting, ceased medication, and specific preparation such as bowel prep.

c) Communication with pre admission nurse and ward clerk to ensure all notes, X-rays, pathology etc. are available when needed.

d) Compliance with Manipal Standards Correct Patient, Correct Procedure and Correct Site.

e) Monitoring of operating list progress in order to keep patients informed of delays or ringing patients to present earlier if required.

f) Communicating with peri operative team with issues that may arise with patients to ensure reassessment is attended if necessary in a timely manner.

g) Clear and open communication with all members of the health care team.

h) Provide culturally appropriate patient focused nursing care.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Demonstrates understanding of and applies the roles and responsibilities of the instrument and circulating nurse in accordance to Manipal Policies, Operating Room and other Procedural Areas - Handling of Accountable Items Standard Procedures.
• Demonstrates competence to perform the role of instrument and circulating nurse. This includes knowledge of Manipal standards, principles of aseptic technique, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, knowledge of procedures performed and instrumentation required for each procedure, infection control principles, care, cleaning and maintenance of surgical instruments, medico-legal requirements, resource and waste management.
• Be familiar with daily theatre list and utilize time management skills to ensure requirements of equipment and instrumentation is available in advance to reduce or eliminate delays in the flow of the list.
• Demonstrate a systematic and planned approach to all activities to meet the needs of the patient to ensure a positive outcome.

 

This includes:

 

a) Confirming patient identification and consent in accordance with Manipal Process.

b) Being able to identify potential risks and take appropriate action to minimize risk.

c) Perform in critical events in accordance with policies for emergency situations.

d) Checking all equipment, instruments and sterile supplies are functioning and available.

e) Monitor patient transfer and positioning for surgical procedures.

f) Undertake the sterile set up immediately prior to the commencement of each procedure.

g) Perform the surgical count with the circulating nurse in accordance with Manipal standards and anticipate the needs of the surgical team.

h) Report any and all breaks in aseptic technique and initiate corrective action.

i) Demonstrate compliance with and adherence to Manipal Cleaning and Disinfecting and Sterilizing Reusable Medical and Surgical Instruments.

 

Anaesthetic Role:

 

- Be able to identify potential risks and take appropriate action to minimize risk.

- Perform in critical events in accordance with policies for emergency situations.

- Maintain accountability for their actions when functioning in the role of anaesthetic nurse by practicing within the Manipal and applicable standards.

- Develop and maintain the necessary skills to collaborate with the anaesthetist by providing support for the safe administration of anaesthesia, and able to provide effective back up during critical situations by:

a) Collaborating with the anaesthetist during preparation, induction, maintenance and emergence phases of anaesthesia.

b) Collaborating with the anaesthetist to provide patient focused nursing care during the phase of anaesthesia including assessment and monitoring, maintenance of fluid balance, assessment for hazards to patient and personnel, provide equipment and supplies for anticipated and unanticipated critical events.

c) Collaborating with the anaesthetist to ensure a smooth emergence from anaesthesia which will include assessment of patients physiological parameters, maintaining a clear airway, pain level and fluid balance.

• Demonstrate a systematic and planned approach to meet the needs of the patient for desired outcomes, this includes:

a) Clear and open communication with all members of the team.

b) Compliance with Manipal Correct Patient, Correct Procedure and Correct Site.

c) Ensuring appropriate and available diagnostic images.

d) Assessing allergies and sensitivities and fasting status of the patient.

e) Ensuring all equipment and supplies required for anaesthesia are available and functioning prior to the commencement of anaesthesia.

f) Assist with patient transfer and positioning for surgery.

g) Recognize and respond to changes in the condition of the patient.

h) Recognize peri operative complications and respond appropriately.

i) Anticipate the needs of the anaesthetist.

j) Comply with Manipal OT standards for reprocessing of reusable instruments and equipment.

 

Post Anaesthetic Care Role:

 

• Demonstrate competence required for effective and safe patient care following anaesthesia including patent airway techniques, obstructive airway intervention, knowledge of advanced life support techniques, patient monitoring and resuscitation, pharmacology, management and control of acute pain, nausea and vomiting, temperature regulation, life threatening complications, infection control principles and practices.

- Be able to identify potential risks and take appropriate action to minimize risk.

- Perform in critical events in accordance with policies for emergency situations.

• Demonstrate skills and knowledge of the equipment and instruments used in both routine and emergency care of the post-operative patient. Being aware of clinical limitations and seek medical advice and support.

- Maintain accountability for all actions in the delivery of nursing care in the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit and aware of and comply with protocols, policies and standards to provide safe and effective patient care.

- Ensure a verbal handover is received from the anaesthetist and the peri operative nurse involved in the intra operative care of the patient.

- Documentation of care is clear, contemporaneous and comprehensive as part of the patient medical record.

• Demonstrates vigilance in the assessment and management of the patient throughout their post anaesthesia recovery period.

- Ensure the healthcare facility discharge criteria are met and a comprehensive handover is provided from the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit to the receiving ward and safe patient transfer practices are utilized.

 

Step Down Role:

 

- Utilizes standards outlined by Manipal.

- Maintains competency and skills required for effective and safe patient preparation and care in the pre and post-operative period through to discharge from the Step Down Unit.

- Be able to identify potential risks and take appropriate action to minimize risk.

- Perform in critical events in accordance with policies for emergency situations.

- Shows knowledge of pharmacology and the equipment required in the care of the patient during the preparation for surgery and post-operative care.

• Demonstrates a systemic and planned approach to all activities to meet the needs of each patient. This includes:

a) Checking patients Recommendation for Admission and pre admission notes to ensure that all preparation work has been completed prior to arrival.

b) Ensuring the patient has followed all pre-operative instructions; this may include fasting, ceased medication, and specific preparation such as bowel prep.

c) Communication with pre admission nurse and ward clerk to ensure all notes, X-rays, pathology etc. are available when needed.

d) Compliance with Manipal Standards Correct Patient, Correct Procedure and Correct Site.

e) Monitoring of operating list progress in order to keep patients informed of delays or ringing patients to present earlier if required.

f) Communicating with peri operative team with issues that may arise with patients to ensure reassessment is attended if necessary in a timely manner.

g) Clear and open communication with all members of the health care team.

h) Provide culturally appropriate patient focused nursing care.