Surgical assistance - who can help?

Abstract

Changes affecting surgical training, together with the implementation of the European Working Time Directive, have necessitated increased reliance on non-medically qualified assistants. Such assistance must be performed by suitably educated personnel. The RCS, The Perioperative Care Collaborative (PCC) and The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) all play a role in ensuring high standards of patient care. In so doing, they have determined the circumstances and the level at which such assistance may be given by three grades of perioperative personnel. It is essential that surgeons understand and support such non-medically qualified colleagues in adhering to these standards.

Practice audit of the role of the Non‐medical surgical assistant in Australia, an online survey

“…The role is well established in the international context, where it has configurations exclusive to nursing (Registered Nurse First Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, Perioperative Nurse Surgeons Assistant) and non-nursing (Physician Assistants/Associates, Surgical Care practitioners, Surgical First Assistants, Operating Department Practitioners, Certified Surgical Technologists and Certified Surgical First Assistants/ Surgical Assistant -Certified). [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] In Australia, the literature suggests that only registered nurses (RN) as Perioperative Nurse Surgeon's Assistant or Perioperative Nurse Practitioner are fulfilling the role of NMSA. [17][18][19] In this paper, the terms Perioperative Nurse Surgical Assistant (PNSA), Perioperative Nurse Practitioner (NP) and NMSA are synonymous.…”

Valuing the role of the non‐medical surgical assistant in Australia

“…This role has existed in Australia for more than 20 years but is not professionally recognized or governed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) via either the Board of Nursing and Midwifery Australia or the Medical Board of Australia. An example of input by surgical groups in the international setting is the Royal College of Surgeons England who have been proactive with curricula input for the role in the UK, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) has had little input into formal recognition, curricula and governance of the role in Australia.…”

Task transfer: A survey of Australian surgeons on the role of the non-medical surgical assistant

“…An example of international support for the NMSA role is well illustrated in the United Kingdom (UK). The Royal College of Surgeons England (RCSE) has been proactive in undertaking a comprehensive review of the curriculum of the NMSA 13 . The objective was to improve performance of the entire surgical team.…”

“…This work culminated with the updated curriculum framework for the surgical care practitioner (SCP) in 2014 14 . The RCSE also requested streamlining of titles of NMSA within the UK to standardise parameters for the roles 13,15 .…”

“…What is prominent in the literature about advance practice nursing roles is the need for regulated, standardised education and accompanying suitable clinical proficiencies 6,13,[27][28][29][30][31][32] .…”