An in-house short course in nursing anaesthesiology, offered to all nurses working in a theatre environment at the Tygerberg Hospital (TBH), is helping to improve patient safety and efficient theatre management.

This customised course was developed in 2014 by anaesthesiology specialists in the Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care at TBH and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) of Stellenbosch University (SU).

"Nurses form an essential part of the multidisciplinary team working in theatres," says Dr Adele de Goede, a medical specialist at TBH. Every member of this team is responsible for the well-being of a patient and teamwork is key to the outcome of any surgery. It is thus of the utmost importance that team members continuously upskill themselves to ensure they can perform at the highest possible level.

"Nurses who are expected to assist anaesthesiologists in their clinical proceedings are encouraged to attend this training course, which is offered over a period of 10 weeks," says De Goede.

Training is founded in basic theatre orientation and focused on anaesthesiology. "We look at risks and anaesthetic emergencies, safety and the practical aspects of anaesthetic nursing," says De Goede. "By understanding basic knowledge of the practice of anaesthesia, nurses become confident and skilled anaesthetic assistants, which improve patient safety and efficient theatre management."

Five enrolled nursing assistants (ENA), who are currently doing the course, commented on the value thereof:

ENA Reena Ngubane said the course taught her a lot about different types of medication and its applications. "It also gave me insight of what happens when someone is anaesthetized."

According to ENA Thembela Gwabaza the course is important because it improved her understanding of the theatre environment.

ENA Erika Tshikovha said the opportunity for nurses to participate effectively in the multidisciplinary team was 'n highlight. "We need to know what we are doing when assisting the anaesthesiologist."

ENA Phumla Frans said the course is important because nurses are taught about the responsibilities of an anaesthetic nurse towards the patient and the theatre team. "It gave me insight into what anaesthesia is and what to expect."

ENA Avuheani Tshikovha said it assisted her to deliver valuable services to the patients and to know what to do in certain theatre situations, for example when resuscitation is needed. "It helps me to be a valuable member of the theatre team."

Photo (from left to right): Sr Sandra Kittshoff (theatre mentor), ENA Thembela Gwabaza, ENA Avuheani Tshikovha, ENA Phumla Frans, ENA Reena Ngubane, Dr Celeste Cilliers (Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care) and ENA Erika Tshikovha.