Task transfer: A survey of Australian surgeons on the role of the non-medical surgical assistant

Background: A non-medical surgical assistant is a clinician who provides perioperative care in the role of surgical assistant but does not possess a medical degree. This role has been practiced in Australia for more than 20 years. Aim: This survey investigates Australian surgeons’ attitudes and...

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Main Authors: Toni Hains, Catherine Turner, Haakan Strand
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Australian College of Perioperative Nurses 2018-03-01
Series:Journal of Perioperative Nursing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.acorn.org.au/index.php/jpn/article/view/274
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author Toni Hains
Catherine Turner
Haakan Strand
author_facet Toni Hains
Catherine Turner
Haakan Strand
author_sort Toni Hains
collection DOAJ
description Background: A non-medical surgical assistant is a clinician who provides perioperative care in the role of surgical assistant but does not possess a medical degree. This role has been practiced in Australia for more than 20 years. Aim: This survey investigates Australian surgeons’ attitudes and current practice regarding the role of the non-medical surgical assistant. Design/method: Distribution of the survey was online in December 2015 by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). Data analysis was descriptive using online survey methodology and convenience sampling. Results: In the private sector in Australia 105 respondents (35 per cent) use a non-medical surgical assistant. In the private sector in Australia, 188 respondents (64 per cent) were ‘very supportive’ or ‘supportive to some degree’ of the role, with 60 (20 per cent) ‘undecided’ and 48 (16 per cent) ‘not supportive’. Conclusion: The results illustrate there is support in the Australian surgical community for the role. The majority of respondents advocated contribution to governance of the role and curricula oversight by the RACS.
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publishDate 2018-03-01
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spelling doaj-art-eb7cd07b63ec460aa50e4fffea4a14b42025-08-20T02:20:09ZengAustralian College of Perioperative NursesJournal of Perioperative Nursing2209-10842209-10922018-03-0131110.26550/2209-1092.1020Task transfer: A survey of Australian surgeons on the role of the non-medical surgical assistantToni Hains0Catherine Turner1Haakan Strand2University of QueenslandUniversity of QueenslandUniversity of Queensland Background: A non-medical surgical assistant is a clinician who provides perioperative care in the role of surgical assistant but does not possess a medical degree. This role has been practiced in Australia for more than 20 years. Aim: This survey investigates Australian surgeons’ attitudes and current practice regarding the role of the non-medical surgical assistant. Design/method: Distribution of the survey was online in December 2015 by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). Data analysis was descriptive using online survey methodology and convenience sampling. Results: In the private sector in Australia 105 respondents (35 per cent) use a non-medical surgical assistant. In the private sector in Australia, 188 respondents (64 per cent) were ‘very supportive’ or ‘supportive to some degree’ of the role, with 60 (20 per cent) ‘undecided’ and 48 (16 per cent) ‘not supportive’. Conclusion: The results illustrate there is support in the Australian surgical community for the role. The majority of respondents advocated contribution to governance of the role and curricula oversight by the RACS. https://journal.acorn.org.au/index.php/jpn/article/view/274non-medical surgical assistantperioperative nurse surgeon’s assistantperioperative nurse practitionerRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons
spellingShingle Toni Hains
Catherine Turner
Haakan Strand
Task transfer: A survey of Australian surgeons on the role of the non-medical surgical assistant
Journal of Perioperative Nursing
non-medical surgical assistant
perioperative nurse surgeon’s assistant
perioperative nurse practitioner
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
title Task transfer: A survey of Australian surgeons on the role of the non-medical surgical assistant
title_full Task transfer: A survey of Australian surgeons on the role of the non-medical surgical assistant
title_fullStr Task transfer: A survey of Australian surgeons on the role of the non-medical surgical assistant
title_full_unstemmed Task transfer: A survey of Australian surgeons on the role of the non-medical surgical assistant
title_short Task transfer: A survey of Australian surgeons on the role of the non-medical surgical assistant
title_sort task transfer a survey of australian surgeons on the role of the non medical surgical assistant
topic non-medical surgical assistant
perioperative nurse surgeon’s assistant
perioperative nurse practitioner
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
url https://journal.acorn.org.au/index.php/jpn/article/view/274
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AT haakanstrand tasktransferasurveyofaustraliansurgeonsontheroleofthenonmedicalsurgicalassistant