Senior Healthcare Professional: Operating Theatre

• Demonstrates understanding of roles and responsibilities in accordance with policies, operating room, and procedural areas - Handling of Accountable Items Standard Procedures.
• Demonstrates competence to perform instrument and circulating nurse role. Includes knowledge of standards, aseptic technique, anatomy, pharmacology, procedures, instrumentation, infection control, and resource management.
• Familiar with daily theatre list and utilizes time management skills to ensure equipment and instrumentation availability.
• Systematic approach to meet patient needs for positive outcomes.

This includes:

a) Confirming patient identification and consent.

b) Identifying potential risks and taking action to minimize risk.

c) Performing in critical events according to emergency situation policies.

d) Checking equipment, instruments, and sterile supplies.

e) Monitoring patient transfer and positioning.

f) Undertaking sterile setup before procedure commencement.

g) Performing surgical count with circulating nurse according to Manipal standards.

h) Reporting breaks in aseptic technique and initiating corrective action.

i) Demonstrating compliance with cleaning and disinfecting reusable medical instruments.

Anaesthetic Role:

- Identifying potential risks and taking action to minimize risk.

- Performing in critical events according to emergency situation policies.

- Maintaining accountability for actions when functioning as anaesthetic nurse.

- Developing and maintaining skills to collaborate with anaesthetist for safe anaesthesia administration.

• Systematic approach to meet patient needs for desired outcomes.

a) Clear communication with team members.

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

c) Ensuring diagnostic images are available.

d) Assessing patient allergies, sensitivities, and fasting status.

e) Ensuring equipment and supplies are available for anaesthesia.

f) Assisting with patient transfer and positioning.

g) Recognizing changes in patient condition.

h) Recognizing perioperative complications and responding appropriately.

i) Anticipating anaesthetist needs.

j) Complying with reprocessing standards for reusable instruments.

Post Anaesthetic Care Role:

• Demonstrates competence for effective and safe patient care after anaesthesia.

- Identifying potential risks and taking action to minimize risk.

- Performing in critical events according to emergency situation policies.

• Demonstrating skills and knowledge of equipment and instruments used in routine and emergency post-operative care.

- Maintaining accountability for all actions in delivering nursing care in Post Anaesthetic Care Unit.

- Ensuring verbal handover from anaesthetist and perioperative nurse involved in intraoperative care.

- Documentation of care is clear, contemporaneous, and comprehensive.

• Demonstrates vigilance in assessing and managing patient throughout post-anaesthesia recovery period.

- Meeting healthcare facility discharge criteria and providing comprehensive handover to receiving ward.

Step Down Role:

- Utilizing standards outlined by Manipal.

- Maintaining competency and skills required for effective and safe patient preparation and care.

- Identifying potential risks and taking action to minimize risk.

- Performing in critical events according to emergency situation policies.

• Demonstrating systemic approach to all activities to meet patient needs.

a) Checking patient recommendation for admission and pre-admission notes.

b) Ensuring patients have followed pre-operative instructions.

c) Communicating with pre-admission nurse and ward clerk.

d) Compliance with Correct Patient, Correct Procedure, and Correct Site standards.

e) Monitoring operating list progress.

f) Communicating with perioperative team with issues that may arise.

g) Clear and open communication with healthcare team.

h) Providing culturally appropriate patient-focused nursing care.