OPERATING DEPARTMENT PRACTITIONER, OPERATION THEATRE

 GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Accountable for providing professional nursing care in surgery, anesthesia, recovery, and endoscopy, to patients within a hospital unit, adhering to hospital policies and nursing services principles, policies, and procedures to ensure high-

quality care is practiced.

JOB DESCRIPTION

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT IN THE OPERATION THEATRE:

1.     Adherence to nursing care vision, mission, goals, and objectives, aligns with the scope of nursing services, and performs duties as assigned by the Unit Manager to ensure high-quality care is rendered.

2.     Notifies the unit manager of any changes in the situation that could impact the standards of care.

3.     Provide the operation theatre room ready for use by checking the completion of damp dusting, checking the gas cylinders, testing all equipment in good order, replenishing stocks like lotion, suture, and procedure set, and preparing trolleys for use.

4.     Collaborate with ward staff to ensure patients arrive on time for procedures, optimizing OT utilization.

5.     Participates in the unit meetings, dialogue sessions, and other hospital activities.

6.     Collaborate with the unit manager in maintaining accurate records of linen, equipment, and medical supplies, condemning old or unusable items for disposal if necessary, carrying out assigned tasks, and providing feedback

7.     Charge accurately, incorporating charges for equipment and consumable items into the patient's charges and verifying their completeness.

8.     Inspect, maintain, and document the supply of sterile packs to ensure the integrity of the packaging and maintain an adequate supply of unit stock from central sterile supply services.

A SCRUB AND RECOVERY STAFF:

1.     Verify patient identity and surgery details according to the OT list in the reception area and accompany patients safely into the operating rooms.

2.     Provide necessary surgical instruments, arranging them according to usage, maintaining sterility, and ensuring an adequate supply of lotions and items according to the surgeon's preference.

3.     Performing a surgical hand scrub, wearing a sterile gown and gloves, and

preparing and positioning the patient according to the type of surgery.

4.     Anticipating surgeon needs, assisting in coagulation of bleeders, maintaining instrument sterility and cleanliness, passing correct specimens to the circulating nurse, performing swab and instrument counts, and notifying if there is any fault.

5.     Support surgeons in all operative procedures, consultants about the care of patients in the Operation Theatre, resuscitation of patients in emergency, and report counts as correct or incorrect to the surgeon

6.     Check, and handle the specimens properly after each case, confirming with the registered nurse or surgeon, if necessary, before sending them to the laboratory or pathology services

7.     Provide cleanliness and organize the drapes and instruments, responsible disposal of sharps in designated containers, and complete all case-related documents

8.     Accompany patients safely into the recovery room before being sent to the ward and record all cases in the Operation Theatre Record Book.

9.     Collaborate with registered nurses to provide high-quality care, performing specific post-operative instructions as ordered, ensuring patient safety, monitoring vital signs, managing surgical drainage systems, collecting specimens and laboratory results, completing documentation, and notifying abnormal findings.

AN ANAESTHESIA STAFF:

1.     Provide patient education and reassurance before surgery, avoid unnecessary conversation if the patient is drowsy because of the pre-medication, and assess patients' medical history and allergies.

2.     Prepare a wide range of specialist equipment and drugs, including anesthetic machines, intravenous equipment, and airway devices.

3.     Provide patient safety during anesthesia such as checking for denture removal, loose teeth, and contact lens removal, and ask to confirm any oral intake.

A CIRCULATING STAFF:

1.     Collaborates with the sterile scrub person by providing and opening sterile supplies required for the patient’s arrival and the surgeon’s needs.

2.     Fastening the scrub person’s gown after the scrub person completes their scrub,

3.     Check and communicate with the scrub person if additional supplies or instruments are needed.

4.     Opens sterile supply packages using proper techniques to maintain sterility, and verifies the list of suture materials and sizes based on the surgeon’s preferences.

5.     Perform a brief assessment of the patient, accompany them during the induction of general anesthesia, and assist the anesthesia nurse during induction and intubation.

6.     Support the surgeon and their assistants with the gowning after scrub, observe for any breaks in sterile technique during draping, and be alert to anticipate the needs of the sterile team member during the surgical

procedure.

7.     Provide the completeness of all related documents in the patient’s chart, permanent operation room record, and other relevant records, and responsibility for counting sponges, sharps, and instruments with the scrub person during closure.

IN THE CENTRAL STERILIZING SUPPLY SERVICE:

1.     Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in the unit.

2.     Assisting in the proper handling and washing of medical instruments, ensuring their condition before assembly, and recording any condemned items for isolation.

3.     Execute in packing operating theater and procedure sets for all wards and services, adhering to the "First-In, First-Out" system, and ensuring the integrity of sterilized items.

4.     Maintaining inventory of materials, disposables, and instruments, checking weekly for theater services and every three months for other services, and supervising Care Assistants and Attendants.

5.     Execute cleaning of the autoclave chamber and maintain records.

IN THE ENDOSCOPY SERVICES:

1.     Perform thorough cleaning each morning, including sanitizing trolleys, lamps, and walls to ensure hygiene and safety.

2.     Prepares and inspects the camera system, endoscope, monitoring system, oxygen, and suction apparatus to ensure proper functioning and readiness for procedures.

3.     Receive patients from the ward or clinic and accompany them until checked by the registered nurse, guide the patient to the procedure room, and assist in positioning appropriately for the procedure.

4.     Support to hold the bite block, ensuring the patient’s chin is tilted towards the chest and the head is in the midline during the gastroscopy procedure and position the patient in recumbent with the head propped up at 45 degrees and place a protective pad on the chest for the bronchoscopy procedure.

5.     Post procedure to wheel the patient to the recovery room and assist in their comfort.

6.     Perform cleaning of the floor, trolleys, walls, and lamps for the entire unit at the end of the day.

7.     Conduct weekly cleaning of the entire unit to maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

8.     Organize the unit, switch off the lights, obtain supplies from the store as needed, and secure the unit before leaving.

9.     Notify any loss or malfunction of machines and lights to the Unit Manager.

JOB REQUIREMENT

Education:

• Certificate in Operating Department Practice Program or Diploma in Operating Department Practice Program

Knowledge and Experiences:

• Certified Basic Life Support would be a priority.
• Experience working in a hospital is an advantage.
• Experience in assisting the surgeon in various disciplines of surgery.

Skills & Competencies:

• Able to converse fluently and write in English and Bahasa Malaysia
• Microsoft Office literacy.

Personal attributes:

• Have interpersonal and communication skills.
• Caring, honest, and responsible workers
• Willingness to work on scheduled hours, shifts and weekends, public holidays, and any time called during an emergency.