Juanita Plaza

Starts the shift by checking the operating list and checks the patients’ location and level of preparation in the ward or in the Out Patients’ Department.

Communicates with the rest of the surgical team, specifically with the surgeons, the anaesthetist and the Operating Department Practitioner/Anaesthetic Nurse.

Prepares the needed equipments and instruments for the shift’s procedures and checks their workability and absence of faults.

·

Prepares the theatre’s set up such as the positioning of the theatre table, suction machine, diathermy machine, monitors, blinds, spotlights, headlights, etc.

Responsible in cleaning the theatre every after each procedure/operation.

Mentors new theatre nursing staff.

Liaises with neighbouring hospitals in the procurement of equipments or of anything not available on site.

Attends local trust’s mandatory study days.

Scrub Responsibilities:

Sees to it that instruments and sundries are checked properly with the Circulating Nurse.

Makes sure that all the counted equipments and instruments are on their proper working order and all the attachments do fit before the start of any procedure.

Checks patient’s identity by checking the consent and the agreed procedure with the Anaesthetic Nurse or ODP.

Checks the pre-op checklist.

Sees to it that the patient is on his proper position and is protected from injury whilst on the operating table as performed by the Circulating Nurse and the rest of the Theatre Team.

Sees to it that the diathermy pad has been applied by the Circulator and if so, checks if it’s properly stuck to the right site or right part of the body.

Assists the surgeons in the performance of the whole operation/procedure.

Sees to it that proper counting is done throughout the procedure and that Count Policies have correctly been followed.

Maintains proper aseptic technique althroughout the procedure.

Responsible in knowing the needs of the surgeon and requests them from the Circulator, should they are not available on the trolley.

Stays with the patient right after the procedure while he is extubated and does the handover to the Recovery Room, ITU or Overnight Intensive Recovery staff.

Responsible in gathering and logging in of any specimen and its required specific laboratory investigations while seeing to it that necessary instructions are given to the porter for the urgency of its delivery to the laboratory.

Circulating Responsibilities:

Supports the whole Operating Team by gathering the necessary instruments and equipments needed for the procedures.

Shows to the Scrub Nurse the consent and the completed pre-op checklist.

Responsible in keeping the controlled drug cupboard key.

Does the ‘’Time Out’’ or final check for patient’s identity, operation, etc before the start of each procedure.

Counts with the Scrub Nurse perioperatively while strictly and efficiently following the Count Policy.

Sees to it that the patient is free from any injury pre, intra and post op by observing proper manual handling techniques and by providing body supports, enough to provide safety for the patient during the entire stay in the theatre.

Responsible in supporting the Scrub Team for the success of the operation.

Responsible in collecting the specimen from the Scrub Nurse, label it, and add necessary solution it requires.

Do proper electronic and manual documentation such as ORSOS, PICIS and Galaxy as well as the tracking records.

Same Operating Theatre Nursing Responsibilities

Same Operating Theatre Nursing Responsibilities

Same Operating Theatre Nursing Responsibilities

Same Operating Theatre Nursing Responsibilities

Same Operating Theatre Nursing Responsibilities for all specialties such as General, Obstetrics, Gyne, Paediatrics, ENT, Thoracic, Cardiac, Vascular, Urology, & Orthopaedics

Ensures that patient has his medical notes and hospital records upon admission.

Orients the patient to the ward, introducing him to his bay and bay mates, to the staff and to the ward facilities and routines.

Carries out Doctors’ orders and recommendations and works cooperatively with Surgeons and Medics, the Pain Team, Stoma Care Nurses, Nutrition Nurses and Dieticians, Social Workers, Physiotherapists, etc. in providing total care to patient.

Prepares patient for surgery, ensuring necessary instructions are followed such as bowel preparations, provides complete patient identification and allergy wristbands, secures consent and completes the pre operative checklist.

Sends patient to the Theatre or Operating Room, with the Porter, and checks patient and his records with the Theatre Staff Nurse.

Collects patient from the Recovery Room. Checks dressings and packs for bleeding, checks all the connections such as epidural infusions, PCA’s, IV fluids, NG tube, urethral and suprapubic catheters, drains, oxygen therapy connections and CVP line. Checks stoma such as ileostomy, colostomy, jejunostomy and fistulae and their collection bags.

Monitors patient’s vital signs upon arriving in the ward, manages pain relief, checks block when on epidural analgesia, monitors fluid intake and output and provides comfort at all times.

Administers nasogastric, PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy) and IVN feedings.

Administers medications observing the guidelines and established procedures of the NMC.

Does appropriate documentation and recording while maintaining confidentiality at all times.

Acts as a mentor to student nurses affiliating in the ward.

Allocates responsibilities to the Healthcare Assistants.

·

Informs and follows up District and Practice Nurses’ involvement in the patient care upon his discharge.

Ensures a safe and highest standard of nursing care in maintaining hospital policies and procedures.

Attends Study Days and lectures sponsored by the Trust’s Clinical Education Department.

Responsible in providing an appropriate nursing care plan in every admission and do its follow-up and evaluation at least once monthly or as often as necessary.

Performs dependent nursing procedures like carrying out doctor’s / physician’s orders.

Recognizes the significance of the patient’s clinical observation records and takes appropriate actions.

Performs independent nursing functions such as assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care; team- building, leadership and management and proper networking while observing effective communication skills towards the patient and his significant others and all the members of the multidisciplinary team.

Responsible in the allocation of responsibilities among staff, taking into consideration their experience and caring abilities, to ensure an accepted level of patient care and the efficient running of the unit.

Ensures safe custody and administration of drugs in accordance with the established NMC procedures.

Ensures safe use of equipments and how they are operated correctly while ensuring their safe storage and safe working order.

Reports and records any accidents, incidents and complaints to the Home Manager or Deputy Manager.

Keeps accurate and legible records and is aware of the documents’ legal implications.

Provides health education for patients and their significant others.

Maintains confidentiality of information regarding patients, staff and other health services at all times.

Promotes and maintains a safe environment for patients, visitors and colleagues, making self aware of the Health and Safety Act of 1974.

Makes self informed and knowledgeable about the policies surrounding Health and Safety, Manual Handling, COSHH, Infection Control and Fire Safety measures.

Looks after patient’s properties and valuables.

Makes self accountable for the practice of nursing.

· Starts the day by checking all the equipments, instruments, machines and other medical paraphernalias needed for the whole shift and sees to it that the environment is safe, clean and free from any health hazard.

Receives proper hand-over by the out-going staff with regards to the care in management of the patient’s family and elicits its participation in the patient’s care.

Explains procedures to the patients and teach his significant others about his disease process, needed precautions, restrictions, treatments and medications.

Gives nursing care to patients based on their needs such as hygiene and comfort, activity and body mechanics, rest and sleep, safety and nutrition, fluid and electrolyte balance, oxygen and ventilation and emotional and spiritual needs.

Demonstrates an understanding of the relevant diagnostic procedures.

Accurately carries out physician’s orders.

Keeps patient’s records and maintains its confidentiality.

Coordinates with the physicians and other members of the health team in achieving patient’s optimum recovery.

Evaluates patient’s response to the procedures.

Provides clear and concise instructions upon patient’s discharge.

Accepts assignments, as designed by the Supervising Nurse, to all the departments and holds self

Responsible for the unit policies and the nursing practices related to the care of patients.

Teaches, supervises and orients new nursing staff.

Attends monthly conferences together with the Medical Director, Nurse Supervisor, Senior Nurse and fellow Staff Nurses to maintain quality nursing care.

Participates in the Ministry of Health’s annual vaccination campaign.

Accepts assignments in the Emergency Room, Operating Room, Delivery Room, Medical-Surgical Wards and the Out Patient Department as designed by the Nurse Supervisor.