Knowledge and perceptions of the NMSA role in Australia: A perioperative staff survey

Benefits and impacts of the PNSA role: surgeon and nurse perspectives

“…This consistency is seen to enhance communication across the surgical team increasing patient safety, increasing efficiencies in both the individual patients' surgical journey and across the surgical service. aUthOrs OliVia sONNeBOrN MN, RN 1,2 Peter staceY MN, RN 2…”

The Perioperative Nurse Surgical Assitant (PNSA) of the future

“…Advanced practice nurse (APN) roles have been implemented across all areas of the Australian health service and have extended into the perioperative environment mainly in the form of the perioperative nurse surgical assistant (PNSA) 1 . Despite over 20 years of research articles in Australia reporting the benefits of the PNSA role there continues to be a lack of recognition of PNSAs and limitations to the broader implementation and uptake of PNSA practice [2][3][4] .…”

“…ACORN guidelines concede that perioperative nurses may be asked to undertake the role of surgical assistant as a substitute for unavailable doctors even when nurses have not embarked on further postgraduate studies or undertaken specific training 1,3 . The PNSA role is an extended role and one that rural and remote nurses often report feeling 'unprepared for' yet must still perform 16 .…”

“…Tertiary institutions such as La Trobe University are in a position to provide increased flexible and accessible PNSA specialist education aimed at nurses, especially nurses in rural and remote regions. PNSA endorsement is not the sole motivator for RNs undertaking specialist postgraduate PNSA studies -many surgeons recommend undertaking further education to expand clinical practice, provide quality surgical assistance and increase personal and job satisfaction 3,13,14 . Hospital administrators also focus increasingly on service models that deliver holistic, higher quality, coordinated care at a lower cost 21 with the PNSA role shown to have benefits including reduced costs, improved leadership and mentoring, and reduction in operating theatre cancellations and delays 7,10 .…”

“…The NMSA role can also prove to be costeffective by decreasing preparation time for surgery and shortening actual operation time 7 . PNSAs are valued by other perioperative nurses due to a focus on improved worklife balance and working conditions, mentoring and leadership; surgeons also acknowledge their contribution to quality of care and efficiency 3,10,22,23 .…”