In England, theatre nurses face changes

In England, theatre nurses face changes The functions of nurses in Britain are changing as the National Health Service is reorganized. Two official reports, the Briggs and the Lewin, recently released, suggest various ways of implementing the reorganization. The Lewin Report emphasizes the staffing and organization of operating theatres, while the Briggs Report covers a wider area with no mention of operating theatre nurses. In Britain, nurses face a hierarchical maze of job descriptions. Nurses in the operating theatre, in particular, face an uncertain future. Their function will depend greatly on the possibly expanded use of operating theatre technicians and on the exposure of student nurses to operating theatre work. 80th issues still are under debate. Although nurses have been in operating theatres for generations, the necessiiy of nurses there has just recently been officiallly recognized in the Lewin Report. Operating department assistants are recommended in that report, and the Briggs Report suggests expanding the training and function of operating theatre technicians, who now perform more limited functions than do technicians in the United States. One point which the Lewin Report considers essential is that student nurses should be taught preand postanesthetic patient care. It suggests they be exposed to surgical procedures.

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The training of student nurses is split into two sections. The first covers 72 weeks, divided into a four-week introductory course and four 12-week modules of medical, surgical, psychiatric and community nursing, followed by 20 weeks of clinical training in one or two units for further experience in basic nursing skills. Students receive a certificate in nursing practice at the end of this training. The second section of training, consisting of 18 more months of modular experience, i s not undertaken by all students. Upon completion of this second section, the nurse can become registered, or she may have elected a dual course leading to higher certification in addition to registration. Extensive operating room experience is neither recommended nor negated by either report. The National Association of Theatre Nurses (NATN) questions where, if at all, theatre experience will fit into student nurse training. They fear theatre training might be available only as a post-rqistration course. NATN wants to be involved, if only as advisers, in the ongoing National Health Service reorganization. The group believes that if they are not involved, the training and use of nurses in operating theatres will be lost.

AORN Journal, October 1973, Vol 18, N o 4

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