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Knowledge and perceptions of the non-medical surgical assistant role in Australia – a perioperative staff survey
Knowledge and perceptions of the non-medical surgical assistant role in Australia e a perioperative staff survey Ms Toni Hains1, Dr Haakan Strand1, Prof Catherine Turner1 1 University Of Queensland Abstract: Internationally, the role of the Non-Medical Surgical Assistant [NMSA] is well accepted; however in Australia, as with many potentially advanced practice roles, the role lacks recognition and professional regulation. A recent practice audit of the NMSA role in Australia found only registered nurses or nurse practitioners performing the role; this survey of Australian perioperative staff reveals that enrolled nurses and non-nursing personnel are also performing the role. Objectives were to describe and clarify: Perioperative Staffs’ Knowledge and Perceptions of the NMSA role B Perioperative staff familiarity with NMSA titles; B Who should contribute to governance of the role and B Ability of the NMSA to perform tasks in the categories of mentoring, leadership, theatre efficiency, safety and procedural knowledge. Current Perioperative Practice B What experience perioperative staff had working with the NMSA role in Australia; B What were the qualifications of the NMSA with whom the staff had worked; B Who undertook the surgical assisting in the unit and B How frequently and why perioperative staff were required to perform the role of NMSA “ad hoc”? Design/Method: This paper reports the findings of a recent survey of Australian perioperative staff. The survey was administered at the 2016 National Australian College of Operating Room Nurses Conference Results: A total of 127 surveys were started with a completion rate of 92%. Of roles exclusive to the NMSA role, Perioperative Nurse Surgeon’s Assistant (PNSA) was the most familiar title with n¼42(43.4%) of respondents currently working with a NMSA in their unit. The generalist role of Nurse Practitioner (NP) scored higher n¼116(95%) than the PNSA but the NP works in many specialties in the healthcare system. Perioperative Nurse Practitioners, who work as a NMSA, scored much lower n¼63(51.6%) than the PNSA. The specialty with the highest involvement of the NMSA in this survey was orthopaedics surgery n¼49(39.8%), followed by general surgery with n¼41(33.3%). The survey findings confirm that the role is not well established across the Australian healthcare system. Like www.npjournal.org
many potentially advanced practice roles it lacks professional enforceable regulation. Three points were highlighted in the results: Perioperative staff are required to fill the role of surgical assistant on an impromptu basis. NMSAs with no post-graduate qualifications are perceived by perioperative staff to be less equipped in mentoring, leadership, theatre efficiency, safety and procedural knowledge. There was evidence that some perioperative praxis necessitate the role of the NMSA to avoid practices that compromise patient safety. Conclusion/Recommendations: A need exists in the Australian healthcare system for the NMSA role. Perioperative staff who fill this role on an impromptu basis expose themselves to medico-legal ramifications Support for the formal recognition and regulation of the NMSA role in Australia is evidenced by perioperative staff perception that NMSAs with a higher level of qualification perform tasks related to mentoring, leadership, theatre efficiencies and procedural knowledge at a ‘good’ or higher level consistently. As is the case with many potentially advanced practice roles, no formal criteria exist for the practice or credentialing by the agencies with authority to enforce requirements. In the interests of patient safety a dialogue should commence between ACORN, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to determine the best approach for recognising, educating and professionally regulating the NMSA role in Australia. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2017.05.040 Creating a successful and sustainable nurse practitioner service in the remote Kimberley Region of WA Ms Michelle Cruse1 1 WA Country Health Service, Kimberley Region Abstract: Background: Fitzroy Crossing Hospital provides Emergency and general Medical care to approximately 4500 predominately aboriginal people within the Fitzroy Valley1. The hospital is unique as it doubles as the ED and GP primary care service, and medical care is provided by locum doctors. Challenges of addressing health inequity and providing medical care in the Kimberley are similar to many remote hospitals including locum ‘fly in/fly out’ medical workforce which can further negatively impact on indigenous The Journal for Nurse Practitioners - JNP
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many potentially advanced practice roles it lacks professional enforceable regulation. Three points were highlighted in the results: Perioperative staff are required to fill the role of surgical assistant on an impromptu basis. NMSAs with no post-graduate qualifications are perceived by perioperative staff to be less equipped in mentoring, leadership, theatre efficiency, safety and procedural knowledge. There was evidence that some perioperative praxis necessitate the role of the NMSA to avoid practices that compromise patient safety. Conclusion/Recommendations: A need exists in the Australian healthcare system for the NMSA role. Perioperative staff who fill this role on an impromptu basis expose themselves to medico-legal ramifications Support for the formal recognition and regulation of the NMSA role in Australia is evidenced by perioperative staff perception that NMSAs with a higher level of qualification perform tasks related to mentoring, leadership, theatre efficiencies and procedural knowledge at a ‘good’ or higher level consistently. As is the case with many potentially advanced practice roles, no formal criteria exist for the practice or credentialing by the agencies with authority to enforce requirements. In the interests of patient safety a dialogue should commence between ACORN, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to determine the best approach for recognising, educating and professionally regulating the NMSA role in Australia. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2017.05.040 Creating a successful and sustainable nurse practitioner service in the remote Kimberley Region of WA Ms Michelle Cruse1 1 WA Country Health Service, Kimberley Region Abstract: Background: Fitzroy Crossing Hospital provides Emergency and general Medical care to approximately 4500 predominately aboriginal people within the Fitzroy Valley1. The hospital is unique as it doubles as the ED and GP primary care service, and medical care is provided by locum doctors. Challenges of addressing health inequity and providing medical care in the Kimberley are similar to many remote hospitals including locum ‘fly in/fly out’ medical workforce which can further negatively impact on indigenous The Journal for Nurse Practitioners - JNP
e333