Experiences of operating room staff about the role of theatre technicians in peri-operative nursing

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: BackgroundUnregulated theatre technicians allocated in scrub, circulating or anaesthetic assistant roleschallenge traditional nursing roles in the operating room. No evidence could be found on therole of theatre technicians within the South African context, whilst such changes have anunknown effect on peri-operative patient care.Research questionThe study was guided by the question: 'What are the experiences of operating room staffabout the role of theatre technicians within peri-operative nursing?AimThe aim of this study was to explore the experiences of operating room staff about the role oftheatre technicians in peri-operative nursing.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to gain an understanding of the experiences of operatingroom staff about the role of theatre technicians in peri-operative nursing with specific referenceto:1. Pre-operative nursing2. Intra-operative nursing3. Post-operative nursing4. The supervision by professional nursing practitioners when theatre technicians areallocated to peri-operative nursing roles.Research processA descriptive qualitative research design was applied in this study. Ethics approval wasobtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University and threeprivate healthcare organisations in the Cape Metropolitan area prior to the study.A pilot interview was conducted after which data was collected during semi-structured, audiorecorded interviews with fourteen purposefully selected participants to whom pseudonymswere allocated to ensure anonymity. The interviews were transcribed, themes were inducedand data was coded and elaborated upon whilst applying Lincoln and Guba's criteria ofcredibility, transferability, dependability and conformability to enhance the trustworthiness ofthe study. ResultsThe study found that theatre staff experienced overlapping roles between the roles of theatretechnicians and that of operating room (OR) qualified professional nurses (PNs), as well asdiverse views on comprehensive peri-operative care. Vague role boundaries weredemonstrated through similar role expectations of staff in the scrub, circulator and anaestheticassistant roles: 'I don't think there is a scope of practice for us… that says...this is what youdo, this is what you don't do (Participant 12). However, within these roles, theatre technicians'technical focus opposed the holistic patient care approach by OR qualified PNs. Holistic care,which necessitates an understanding of existing patient conditions, was associated with theanticipation and prevention of peri-operative risks.Surgical team composition seems undirected by standards and unguided by a required levelof supervision. In the high risk OR environment, staff shortages and vague role expectationsare linked to unclear responsibility. Coupled with limited information about team members'credentials and their role boundaries, OR staff report conflict and leadership uncertainty,highlighted by theatre technicians' educational backgrounds: 'I (surgeon) think their trainingmust be done differently to give them insight into what they do (Participant 5).ConclusionThe study emphasised unclear supervision requirements and questionable accountability oftheatre technicians, although theatre staff experienced theatre technicians' role as similar tothat of OR qualified PNs.As voiced by participant 7: 'If there is a real emergency…I (theatre technician) will be worried.Thus, theatre technicians' ambiguous role expectations require clarification as peri-operativerisk prevention is fundamental to safe surgical care.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University