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The Role of a Nurse as First Assistant
- Words:
- 3367
- Submitted:
- Mon Jun 19 2006

... The Role of a Nurse as First Assistant This essay will critically analyse on the role of a nurse as a first assistant in modern theatre. It will also provide a study on the effectiveness of the first assistant's role, whether the first assistant activities constitute an extended role and whether today's scrub nurse's role is expanded and extended, and what implications has this made for today's healthcare system and its staff. NATN (1993) defines first assistants as registered nurses who provide skilled assistance under the supervision of the surgeon but do not intervene surgically. Their standard of care must be of a very high order. Holding retractors, using suction, Handling tissues and organs, skin preparation, assisting with skin closure and haemostasis, cutting sutures and ligatures, prepping, draping and general assistance to the surgeon are examples of this role. Patient safety is paramount and to ensure this, the importance














