Exploring the roles of nursing associates and theatre assistant practitioners in operating departments

Registered nursing associates have been deployed in operating departments in England since 2019, with theatre assistant practitioners (TAPs) being implemented in the early 2000s. However, there is little clarity over the roles and responsibilities of these two positions in theatres. This article details a service evaluation that was undertaken to explore the current roles and responsibilities of nursing associates and TAPs and to identify how they can be best employed to support effective care delivery. The authors collected data from surveys and interviews with a range of staff in operating departments in England, then used descriptive analysis to examine the data. The findings showed that there is significant variation in the roles and responsibilities of nursing associates and TAPs and there is a need for clear guidance to support their future deployment.