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Nurse first assistant: an evolving project in Québec
1Montreal Heart Institute.
Canadian Operating Room Nursing Journal
|October 1, 1996
Summary
The Montreal Heart Institute developed a new Nurse First Assistant role to enhance patient care, addressing evolving healthcare demands. This pilot project involved specialized training and integration into surgical teams, with evaluation planned.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Surgical Assistance
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Evolving work environments and technological advancements necessitate new healthcare roles.
- Increased demands on nurses, including dual roles as scrub nurse and first assistant, prompted a need for specialized support.
- Surgeons' requests and the pursuit of optimal patient care quality drove the initiative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and evaluate the new role of Nurse First Assistant.
- To address the need for specialized nursing support in surgical settings.
- To improve the quality of patient care through enhanced surgical assistance.
Main Methods:
- A collaborative project was presented by the Montreal Heart Institute to regulatory bodies.
- A 186-hour training program was developed for the Nurse First Assistant role.
- Two nurses completed training and were integrated into a medico-surgical team.
Main Results:
- The project received approval from the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ) and the Professional Corporation of Physicians of Québec (PCQ).
- Trained Nurse First Assistants were successfully integrated into clinical practice.
- The pilot project was established for subsequent evaluation.
Conclusions:
- The Nurse First Assistant role is a viable and recognized function within the healthcare system.
- Specialized training and integration can enhance surgical team efficiency and patient care.
- The pilot project demonstrated a successful model for advanced nursing practice in surgical settings.