5. Job Purpose
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To ensure effective leadership in nursing care for post-operative patients in the operation theatre recovery room.
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To manage the Operating Theatre recovery room in a professional manner to ensure high standards of client care and safety together with smooth running and efficiency.
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To work with the operation theatre recovery room team in the direct delivery of client care post operatively.
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To implement all statutory regulations and guidelines in the OT recovery room.
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Checks swabs, packs, instruments and needles with circulator
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Ensure that the findings are chartered and displayed on the count record sheet
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Drapes mayo table and prepare initially required instruments.
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Confirms the circulator for identity of correct patient, with ID band, indoor paper and OT list
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Ensure that patient is positioned safely
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Prepare mayo table with following items; - scalp, dissecting scissor small artery forceps, toothed and non-toothed dissecting forceps, diathermy cord with pencil.
At the commencement of the surgery:
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Assists for skin preparation by providing sponges on sponge holder to surgeon
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Assists in applying drapes
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Passes towel clips to the surgeon
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Position the mayo table
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Hands over diathermy cord and suction tubing’s to circulator or OT attendant for the attachment and checks diathermy setting with surgeon
During surgery:
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Hands over sponges to the surgeon and assistant surgeon
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Passes instruments sponge’s sutures as needed, and replace instruments on mayo table from the trolley as operation proceeds.
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Keeps accurate count of extra sponges, needles OR instruments collected during the operation.
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Anticipates the needs of the surgeon by continuous observation of progress of operation.
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Ensure that the noise & movement in the theater is kept to a minimum
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Ensure that a sterile field is maintained throughout the surgery.
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Before the surgeon closes the cavity, the scrub nurse check sponges, instruments, and needles in accordance with theater policy, informs finding to be surgeon.
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Checked with the circulator for availability of appropriate wound dressing. Collects dressing from the circulator & hands it over to surgeon.
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Hands over specimen to the circulator if needed.
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Removes instrument from mayo trolley.
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Removes blade from the handles & disposes of sharp container.
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Removes drapes from patient.
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Ensure that the area around the dressing is clean & dry & clothes the patient
After surgery:
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Cover the patient with clean sheet.
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Removes scrub nurse gown & gloves.
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As & when permitted by the anesthetist, shift patient from OT table to trolley.
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Accompanies the patient to recovery room & gives all relevant information to the recovery nurse.
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Completes entry in the case register, charge sheet.
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Informs the concerned ward nursing staff
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Check the instruments & other equipments.
During surgery:
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1. Remains in OT throughout procedure
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2. Connects suction and diathermy leads to machine
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3. Replenishes and records sponges and packs as requested
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4. Adheres strictly to theatre policy for disposal of used sponges
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5. Helps in adjustment of OT lights
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6. Ensure that all doors remains closed
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7. Anticipates requirements of the surgical team
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8. Assists with counts and records as needed
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9. Prepares dressings for surgical wound s
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10. Collects the specimen in appropriate container and labels it correctly
On completion of surgery:
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Hands over dressing to the scrub nurse
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Helps anesthetic if needed
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Helps with removal of drapes and preparation of patient for return to recovery room
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Help the scrub nurse
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Ensure that OT room is ready for next case