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Background

- there is a stance that it’s a technical area

Highly-specialized medical practitioners must work quickly and collaboratively in a high-stakes, dynamic environment.
Team members balance standardization of the surgical process with

-unpredictability

- complex technological skill

- experience

Rely on effective leadership, strong communication, and an overarching trust in the team’s shared commitment to patient well-being
patient outcome is highly dependent on the technological equipment, technique, and skill of the team

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UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT

Care in perioperative environment –linked to continuity
Suggested that nurses ‘perform’ theatrically-by learning lines, responding to whispered eves and carrying on despite disruptions
Dramaturgical analyses also suggest operation theatre is a ‘back stage’ arena

-closed to public, where private performances and roles are found, only those working there understand the features of practice.

THE BALANCE

MAINTING MOMENTUM.

ACCOUNTING FOR SAFETY

To enhance safe care and to reduce adverse events ,
It is essential that both technical and non‐technical skills are performed in the OR
The OT nurse must have holistic knowledge and a deeper understanding of the care of the surgical patient and the operating room environment
A need for multidisciplinary and often subspecialized team that can adapt quickly and with an orchestrated approach:
coordinating, collaborating, and focusing on multiple tasks in a timely manner.
Effective perioperative leadership requires mastery of both technical and non-technical skills

TECHNICAL VS NON TECHNICAL SKILLS

Technical Skills (Hard skills) are job-specific - comprising academic knowledge and techniques, expertise, and practical exposure needed to proficiently perform tasks
are specific, teachable abilities that can be defined and measured
In nursing curricula, they dominate theory and clinical practice through skills labs and clinical assignments
Mastering a procedure is a prerequisite for decision-making needed to ensure timely handling with sound medical judgment

TECHNICAL VS NON TECHNICAL SKILLS

Non-Technical Skills (NTS) are social, cognitive and personal skills that can enhance the way one carries out technical skills, tasks and procedures ( soft skills)
Are learned behaviors which require training and focused application in that particular area.
Make up that we are, generally encompassing our attitudes, habits and how we interact with other people.
Much less tangible ,harder to learn( in a classroom/training program), measure and evaluate
However, they can be acquired through educational work and life experiences.
Soft skills are crucial in nursing because they foster a collaborative, respectful and efficient workforce
Soft skills help us to achieve our aspirations
Soft skills also give capacity to assess outcomes, to prepare, and to act to put decisions and aspirations into motion, especially when things are changing

Most needed

Communication

Learning the skills-challenges

Learning the skills-mentorship

Unlike undergraduate nursing education, learning in nursing specialties occurs primarily via on the job training.
This can only be achieved through employment in the specialty, so many operating theatres offer institution specific programs and on the job training.
Consistency in modeling desired behavior can lead to the integration of these “soft” skills as a natural part of the expected performance of the team, providing a cohesive unit that is in sync when caring for the patient
The managers must also model using “soft” skills between team members. Through genuine encouragement and support of colleagues

WAY FORWARD �

Teaching and learning through observation using extended learning experiences.
More than “seeing, doing, teaching” is needed for quality development and knowledge acquisition in the modern peri-operative environment
The “see one, do one, teach one” method should prevail.
Mentors should teach new peri-operative nurses duties by helping them complete a task, with a heavy emphasis on skills based learning
Engaging of the manufacturers/suppliers of the new machines and equipments to provide education on the use and care of their instruments/machines.
It is necessary that all strategies for staff retention be examined to ensure adequate staffing in the OR.
Comprehensive training is needed to equip a new peri-operative nurse with the tools needed to begin functioning at full competency

summary

Non‐technical skills complement technical skills and include cognitive, personal and social skills, which contribute to safe task performance
keep in mind that mastering “soft” skills is an ongoing process and must continue throughout the professional career.
1he implementation of a student-led mentorship programme offer a possible opportunity for nursing students to develop these intangible skills. .
For educators, preceptors, and other leadership team members, it is important to facilitate understanding of the importance of providing a thorough and informative new-employee orientation.
Developing a quality orientation program is both time consuming and demanding, but after it is implemented, the entire organization can benefit from its success both in quality and fiscal dimension