All Discussions - Scalpel - The Operating Theatre Forum

ODPs - The profession needs a degree qualification ?

OTJonline — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:56:17 +0100

" Its a practical job and therefore does not require degree-level practitioners?"

Is it just a practical job ??

Duty of candour could lead to criminal prosecution ! ( UK NHS )

OTJonline — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:06:33 +0000

Have staff got anything to fear ?

Are you compassionate at work ?

OTJonline — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:04:12 +0000

Do you need to be told to be compassionate ?

Jeremy Hunt - New Health Secretary - what's your thoughts ?

OTJonline — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:51:14 +0100

Do you have an opinion on 'Jeremy Hunt's appointment as Health Secretary ? (Keep it clean !)

Cartoon Section

cartoonist — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:45:11 +0000

There will now be a small slot for a Monthly cartoon in the Journal, it will cover all aspects
of theatre life, I hope you enjoy it.
Feedback would be welcomed

When & where did you train?

OTJonline — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:08:28 +0100

Details & Experience may be helpful to newbies

Have you worked or are you working abroad?

rustyiku — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:02:25 +0100

Would you recommend the experience?

Do you perform any extended roles in your current position?

rustyiku — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:03:48 +0100

Is this a good thing?

Changing Your Scrubs

OTJonline — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:41:46 +0100

How often do you change your scrubs ?

Scenario: I observed two members of theatre staff leave the operating theatre suite today in their scrubs and even with their theatre hats on, no white coats covering their theatre uniform, just scrubs and head wear and as luck happened my route was almost the same as theirs as we transited the main hospital corridor, I was heading for the front entrance, where as they were heading for the coffee shop ! I was aghast that they could leave theatre in their 'scrubs' to head into the coffee shop - perhaps I'm getting old ! What's your opinion ?

Junior Doctors knowledge and skills in the operating theatre

AMAllanson — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:49:46 +0100

I am interested in how much training is given to Junior doctors by perioperative nurses on core skills eg scrubbing, prepping, instrument and sharps handling. Do your Junior Doctors learn on the run, from university training, or do you have programs to teach them? Do you constantly monitor this group for breaches in aseptic technique? Do you identify many areas where a breach has occurred? Can you identify areas of greatest need for education? Who do you think should deliver these areas?

I am very keen to see how other perioperative nurses feel about this topic and how it impacts on their practice. I am from Queensland, Australia.
:-?

Notes on using this forum:

OTJonline — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:00:44 +0100

Be sure to mark any topic you wish to follow on the this forum with a *star. Thereafter you'll receive any updates or comments that arise. Happy chatting ! :)

Surgical Safety Check List

DicksonScott — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:57:54 +0100

Hi, I am the CNE in an 8 theatre private hospital in Melbourne Australia. I need some help with regards to ideas surrounding the successful implementation of the WHO Surgical Safety Check List. We have had mixed to limited success with the implementation of this process and where we have had had success the interpretation of how it is done is very individual. Resistance and barriers are everywhere. When ever I speak to people about it they are aware of the fact that it does need to occur but the resistance is very surgeon and "old school theatre nurse" driven and thus hard to break through.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

ODP cannot follow Patient Group Directives (PGDs) Important!

ad101 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 21:54:32 +0000

As you might be aware ODPs are not permitted to administer drugs by following a PGD. This is now restricting ODPs practice within the workplace.

For example you are working in a Ophthalmic Theatre undertaking a cataract list. To maintain efficiency of the list the anaesthetic practitioner administers the anaesthetic eye drops prior to the doctor coming in the anaesthetic room to administer the regional eye block.

If this anaesthetic practitioner is a nurse then she can follow the PGD and administer the anaesthetic eye drops and maintain the efficiency of the list.

If the anaesthetic practitioner is a ODP then they CANNOT administer the anaesthetic eye drops via the PGD and has to wait for the doctor to administer the eye drops himself, thus reducing the efficiency of the list.

If you ask your anaesthetic doctor colleagues about this I am sure that a great deal of them would be surprised that ODPs cannot follow PGDs.

So which professions can follow PGDs

The qualified health professionals who may supply or administer
medicines under a patient group direction are nurses; midwives; health
visitors; optometrists; pharmacists; chiropodists; radiographers;
orthoptists; physiotherapists; ambulance paramedics; dietitians;
occupational therapists; speech and language therapists; prosthetists,
orthotists, and with effect from 1 June 2010, dental hygienists and
dental therapists. They can only do so as named individuals.

So, one of the only ways you could administer drugs via a PGD if you are an ODP is maybe become duel registered as a speech and language therapist or one of the other professions above.

This PGD issue is the biggest threat to the ODP profession progressing along with all the other health care professions. We as a profession are getting left behind. Most of the other professions are talking about independent prescribers. We have not even got as far as PGDs yet!!

We can look forward to becoming a degree level profession but without been able to follow PGDs, these new degree level ODPs won't be able to extend their practice much past the basic level qualification.

We need to highlight this issue with those that have influence in making this change for the future. Without this change we are going no where as a respected profession.

What are your views?

And more importantly, please record your experiences below of how this current legislation is restricting your practice and the care you provide to your patients.

Thanks

What's your social media preference?

OTJonline — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:23:55 +0100

With a plethora of social media pages, communities and groups only a few clicks away with the mouse or readily presented within seconds from your search engine, do you use any of the following:

LinkedIn (Lots of Operating Theatre related materials and groups)

Facebook ( As above )

Twitter ( Lots of individuals, organisations, hospitals tweeting all day long)

My Space ( Featured a few years back, but now gaining a resurgence)

Any others that you regularly use and benefit from ?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Do Agency ODPs & Nurses still exist

OTJonline — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 12:38:25 +0100

A colleague of mine asked me if agency positions for ODPs still exist. (He's been out of the profession for a few months and wanted to resume as an ODP, but not in a permanent role) I honestly did not know the answer to the question. Several years back there were stacks of agencies offering vacancies for agency ODPs and Nurses - are there any still around ?

Do you suffer disruption caused by re-working instrument trays?

DTRMedical — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:57:56 +0100

To help our customers, we are researching the difficulties caused by re-working instrument trays in theatres and clinics and we welcome comment on your experiences.

How often do "black bits" cause rejections and the rush for a replacement tray?

We welcome examples of problems you have with instrument supply to help us develop cost-effective, time-efficient solutions for our customers.

Please feel free to forward this discussion to colleagues who may also be able to contribute.

Best wishes,

Tim

Transient Teams in the Operating Theatre

sharonmarieweldon — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 15:24:01 +0100

We are a research team currently involved with a project called Transient Teams in the Operating Theatre. Please visit our website for a more indepth understanding of what we aim to achieve and how at www.transientteams.wordpress.com All comments are welcome.

Nursing and Midwifery Council to increase the annual registration fee for nurses and midwives

OTJonline — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 12:11:22 +0100

UK Nursing and Midwifery Council to increase the annual registration fee for nurses and midwives by more than 58% - whats your opinion on this ?

OperatingTheatreJobs.com

OTJonline — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:44:15 +0100

Have you visited this Jobs Board for theatre nurses and ODPs.....hundreds of your colleagues use it regularly.

http://www.OperatingTheatreJobs.com

What is your opinion on the new NHS Bill and the changes taking place in England ?

OTJonline — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:44:50 +0100

There is much debate, a lot heated and a lot of hysteria surrounding the new NHS Bill in the media but this is the true pattern with many events these days. But what is your opinion working on the 'front line' ?

OTJonline, Forum admin

OTJonline — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:46:29 +0100

This is the general id for administration of the forum run by The Operating Theatre Journal

May 2012 Now available in Electronic Format

rustyiku — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:29:21 +0100

Wound Care Device to be Trialled in Birmingham

Intraoperative Histological Evaluation of Tissue Could Prevent Poor Surgical Outcome

Scalpel - A New 'Cutting Edge' Discussion Forum

What do you think of this month's issue? Please let us know.

rustyiku, Website minion

rustyiku — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:50:52 +0100

Hi,

I look after the websites for Lawrand - The Operating Theatre Journal, Operating Theatre Jobs & Lawrand.com.

If you've got problems with any site please inbox me & I'll take a look as soon as I can.

Website urls:

http://otjonline.com

http://operatingtheatrejobs.com

http://lawrand.com