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My Experience of…Theatre Nursing. Part 2. Some Questions Answered

Following <a href = “http://www.pronurse.co.uk/careers/articles/517-my-experience-oftheatre-nursing”>Mo’s previous article about her experiences of being a Theatre Nurse, Mo has now answered some questions she received from ProNurse members.

I have been asked for more information about Theatre Courses, the information I have relates to my local Trust but most trusts will run courses using roughly the same format.

Firstly I was asked, if it would be worthwhile to do a course before working in theatre?

The course run by the University of the West of England (UWE) consists of 2 modules: Principles of Peri-operative care Practice – Peri-operative care

Whilst it would be possible to access the “principles” module without having a post in theatre, you would need a base within which to complete the “practice” module.

Secondly, I was asked, Who runs the courses?

The universities run these courses.

Thirdly, how long are the courses?

The “Principles of Peri-operative care” consists of 200 learning hours, 48 hours at Uni (i.e. taught hours) and 152 self-study hours, (7-9 hours per week). The module runs over a 21 week period, students attend Uni on alternate weeks for 1 day.

The “Practice” module is 400 hours, consisting of, 48 hours at Uni (day release), 52 hours self study and 300 hours Clinical Practice.

It is possible to do both modules on a full or part time basis.

Each module is worth 20 credits.

Lastly, I was asked about the cost implications.

Money for courses now, apparently, comes from PCTs (Primary Care Trusts) and is allocated on applications from managers. It is possible to “self fund” which would cost between £600- £700 per module. I was, also, asked what changes and developments I had experienced during my career? I think there are probably three, which stand out:

1) The development of Autoclaves and Tray Systems, when I was a student in theatre we had open trays of instruments which we sterilised in small autoclaves within the theatre environment, we sterilised stainless steel bowls, kidney dishes and gallipots in large water sterilisers. When I qualified, less than a year later, and returned to the same theatre all this was gone! The Edinburgh tray system had been introduced and a TSSU (Theatre Sterile Supply Unit) had been added to the unit. This meant the nursing staff no longer had to wash, dry and lubricate instruments as this was done by dedicated TSSU staff. This was probably an expensive change, as many more instruments were needed to keep the system running smoothly.

2) Recovery Units within the theatre complex were a major advance. When I started working in theatre we used to recover patients in the corridor and often sent them back to the ward with airways still in situ. Now patients get fully trained Recovery staff to take care of them in the vital post-op period.

3) I think, that I will have to return to Laparoscopic Surgery for my third advance in Peri-operative care. This has greatly reduced Anaesthetic, intra-operative and hospital stay times.

Mo Mossman December 2008.