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LEADERSHIP IN SCRUBS: INSPIRING EXCELLENCE IN THE OPERATING THEATRE

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Presenters :Njeri Gaitho;Beatrice Khandegah

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KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL

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Background

  • Leadership in the operating theatre goes beyond titles.
  • Expressed through actions, influence, and relationships.
  • Perioperative nurses shape patient outcomes and team culture.
  • Perioperative nurse plan and prepare for every surgery performed.

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Importance of Leadership in Perioperative Nursing

  • Ensures patient safety and quality outcomes.

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  • Promotes team cohesion and communication.

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  • Builds trust and professionalism in high-pressure environments.

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  • Advocates for the patients

  • Leads the team quietly with actions

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Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)

  • Largest referral and teaching hospital in East & Central Africa.
  • 24 Operating theatres

  • Performs 120 surgeries daily.

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  • Leadership integrated into each operation done.

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  • Leaders without title in every operation

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Objective

To explore practical lessons in perioperative leadership and show how effective leadership enhances:

  • Theatre efficiency
  • Team collaboration
  • Patient safety
  • Good outcomes

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Methods

  • Peer review – literature ,journals
  • Insights from colleagues-personal experiences
  • Observation – real life theatre scenarios .
  • Reflective practice – evaluating leadership under pressure.
  • Perioperative nurse leaders without titles

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Leadership Models in Focus

  • Transformational Leadership: Inspires excellence and learning.

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  • Servant Leadership: Serves with empathy and supports team well-being.

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  • Every team member counts.

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Findings – Transformational Leadership

  • Encourages continuous improvement.

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  • Builds shared vision for patient safety.

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  • Inspires confidence and accountability.

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Findings – Servant Leadership

  • Demonstrated through mentorship and teamwork.

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  • Provides emotional and technical support.

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  • Strengthens morale and cohesion.

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Global and Regional Insights

  • Global: Mentorship, empowerment, collaboration.

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  • African: Resilience and innovation.

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  • KNH: Leadership integrated into practice.

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Integration into Practice

  • Leadership embedded in:
  • Preoperative planning

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  • Intraoperative decision-making

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  • Postoperative debriefing

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  • Guided by human-centered values.

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Conclusion

  • Leadership in scrubs is transformational and servant-hearted.

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  • Inspires excellence and empathy.

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  • Perioperative nurses shape surgical culture.

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  • “Leadership in scrubs is lived, not titled.”

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Recommendations

  • Structured leadership development programmes.

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  • Team debriefings and mentorship systems.

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  • Continuous professional development.

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  • Reflective leadership practices.

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Implications for Nursing Education and Practice

  • Integrate leadership in nursing education.

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  • Promote role modeling in clinical practice.

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  • Support leadership-focused research.

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  • Collaboration: KNH school of nursing and KNH theatres.

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Acknowledgements

  • Peer/journal reviews

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  • Appreciation to KNH perioperative teams.

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  • Gratitude to mentors, students, and colleagues locally and internationally.

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  • Questions

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References

  • Bohle, J., Jr., & Spears, L. C. (2023). A brief introduction to better boards for a better world. The International Journal of Servant-Leadership, 17(1).
  • Royal College of Nursing. (2022). Developing leadership in perioperative nursing. RCN.
  • Spears, L. C. (2024). A journey in servant-leadership. The International Journal of Servant-Leadership, 18(1).
  • World Health Organization. (2009). Safe surgery saves lives. WHO Press.

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