What do people think a referral theatre nurse's role involves?

RE: What do people think a referral theatre nurse's role involves?

Helen Silver — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 09:43:15 GMT

Hi Heather,

Absolutely!

Please feel free to email me if you would like any further information or would like to come and spend the day with us.

Helen

Helen.silver@aht.org.uk

RE: What do people think a referral theatre nurse's role involves?

Helen Silver — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 09:40:37 GMT

Hi Vicki,

The only qualities that are essential are enthusiasm, willingness to learn, hard working and being a team player...... the rest we can teach you

Please feel free to email me if you would like any further information or would like to come and spend the day with us.

Helen

Helen.silver@aht.org.uk

RE: What do people think a referral theatre nurse's role involves?

Heather Bacon — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 07:26:36 GMT

I would also love to be a theatre nurse, I do love surgery and keeping theatre clean and tidy! However I went to a seeing practice day at the closest refferal hospital and decided that I would like to be a bit more involved with anaesthesia.

Do you offer a seeing practice day in order for nurses to see what it’s like?

RE: What do people think a referral theatre nurse's role involves?

Vicki Henshaw — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 21:37:16 GMT

Hi Helen,

I would actually love to be a surgical nurse in the future! I'm currently just awaiting OSCE results so fingers crossed I qualify and can start focusing on this aspect of my career next! Can I ask you what sort of qualities, skills, experience etc you look for in a surgical nurse when you're hiring? I'd like to tailor my time in practice as much as I can to ultimately getting this type of role.

Thanks!

RE: What do people think a referral theatre nurse's role involves?

VetNurse Anon a/c — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 20:42:48 GMT

It depend on the practice!

Some make great use of nurses skill and some don't unfortunately and from my experience it is in the latter!!

I agree with all the above comments above!

In terms of cleaning yes that is our job and maintain a aseptic theatre however if cleaning is all your doing than that's frustrating.

For me I don't mind cleaning as long as I am utilising my skills and have job satisfaction. We have so much to offer and hate to be in a practice as a glorified cleaner. I think referral compared to first opinion will be probably make better use of a nurses skill in theatre!

RE: What do people think a referral theatre nurse's role involves?

Helen Silver — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 17:30:41 GMT

Thanks for the replies This is what I do......

I totally understand that every nurse has their own areas of interest and potential specialism. For me its surgery as I find it exciting, interesting and it inspires me to continue to learn.

In my role I alternate between being a circulating nurse and scrub nurse (our Soft tissue and Orthopaedic surgeons request a scrubbed assistant for roughly 90% of their surgery cases).

Whilst circulating my role begins with ensuring the surgical safety checklist is completed, assisting with anaesthesia induction (our anaesthetists are happy for us to induce and intubate patients under their guidance), placement of monitoring equipment, preparing the patient for theatre (this may include placing additional I/v's, purse strings or tourniquets) and clipping and prepping patients. During surgery the circulating nurse is responsible for calculating and monitoring blood loss, passing on instruments and making sure swab and sharps counts are correct. Finally applying dressing and bandages before the patient is transferred to recovery. This role can also include enabling Lasers and taking radiograph's using the C Arm.

As a scrub nurse- I enjoy laying out the kit, draping the patient and assisting the surgeon in all aspects of surgery, from wound retraction to suturing.

At the end of the day yes I do clean the theatre and set it up again for the next day. I take pride in maintaining an aseptic, state of the art operating suite.

I rarely clean or repack instruments- we have a fabulous technician who takes great pride in doing that and I rarely calculate drugs dosages.

We also have a fab team which makes every day enjoyable

RE: What do people think a referral theatre nurse's role involves?

Alison Clare Hickman — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 21:38:17 GMT

hi,

I prefer hospital nursing and consulting over theatre work however it is Horses for Courses (as they say) and a few VN friends prefer theatre work... we've discussed it before and decided that those of us who prefer working closely with their vet/team over interaction with clients tend towards theatre work. They like to be 'out the back' and calculating drug doses or monitoring anaesthetics on the latest multiparameter machinery. Also, yes, ensuring that 'their' theatre is as spotless and well ordered as possible.

So, in answer to your question... Find a nurse who likes to work in a tight knit team (with minimal client interaction) is interested in advancing his or her knowledge of anaesthetics and monitoring and wants to assume responsibility for the smooth, safe and aseptic running of his or her theatre. Ownership of theatre is somewhat key to encouraging nurses to feel that they are not just there at the vet's bidding. It gives status, which is important if you want to attract interest in a role.

Just my musings and observations...

Anyone else?

Ali h

RE: What do people think a referral theatre nurse's role involves?

Meow1950 — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 20:53:16 GMT

I can't really speak for everyone else but I personally much prefer medical over surgical nursing as I feel much more involved and feel like I make more of a difference to the patient. As mentioned above surgical nursing seems to be so much more vet focussed...unfortunately! I suppose it depends where you are and how much you get to do but as previously mentioned I rarely get to scrub in, and for most procedures a just hand the vet stuff and monitor the anaesthetic. Hence why it doesn't appeal to me that much. Really is a shame that that's the case though, nurses could be used much better in this area

RE: What do people think a referral theatre nurse's role involves?

VetNurse Anon a/c — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 19:59:59 GMT

Yes!

I am more interested in surgical nursing and often wanted to do the Dip AVN back in the day when it was surgical and medical but from experience as a permanent nurse and a locum witnessing several practices all nurses do is clean, hold animals for vet, run around after vet and monitoring anaesthesia.

I have been qualified three years and the last time I have scrubbed into a procedure was when I was a student and had to for my NPL.

Also bloods and catheter placements. In my experience the theater nurse does not do this as much as the ward nurse. Whenever I am on theater I end up holding while the vet does everything.

X-rays again just assisting while the vet does this depending on the vet, very frustrating after I enjoy positioning and can do it standing on my head.

Also there are always lots of stuff on the ops board that a nurse could crack on with but they just don't get delegated to us such as scale and polish, FNAs, sedate clip nails, sedate and demate, sedate and X-rays, syringe ears, aural heamata etc but we just end up stood there assisting or running around and cleaning after the vet and being the fetch and carry!

Unfortunately also as many know there is a problem retaining nurses and always wondered WHY when for 10 years I struggled to get into the profession to do a job I wanted since a child and qualified at the age of 30, now I understand why! I am looking at leaving next sept to go back to uni and find a career that will be respected and valued where my skills and knowledge are used! This battle still goes on in my head so trying to give it one last shot to find the right role and practice for me before I throw in the towel!

This is just my opinion though, from a frustrated Registered Veterinary Nurse!