AB137. 196. The role of the registered nurse first assistant within the perioperative setting

Background: Within the perioperative setting certain factors have contributed to the need for nurses and allied health care professionals to undertake advance perioperative roles. an example of such a role is the registered nurse first assistant (RNFA). RNFA are nurses or non-medical practitioner who works within the multidisciplinary team and have advanced perioperative skills which extend beyond the traditional barriers of a perioperative nurse scope of practice. it is an ever-growing innovative role worldwide. However, with limited literature on the topic very little is known about the role within the author area of practice.

Methods: A systematic review was carried out to synthesis all the evidences from the literature to answer the author research question. Multiple electronic databases such as CINAHL, Medline, Web of Science, PubMed, Science direct, Scopus, Wiley Online Library, and SAGE were searched. A search of the grey literature using search engines such as google scholar and google was conducted. A hand search, related articles search, and reference list search was also conducted. Search was limited to a ten years period between 2007 to 2018, only full text studies and studies published in English were included.

Results: Of 125 hits, 57 were screened, 7 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Four of these studies were quantitative, 1 study was qualitative, and 2 studies used a mix method approach of qualitative and quantitative. Two themes were developed using Braun & Clarke 2006 thematic analysis. The two themes developed were: knowledge advancement and surgical contribution. Quality of articles were appraised using Crowe critical appraisal tool. Findings identify the RNFA as an essential source of knowledge and support to newly qualified and current medical and nursing staff within the perioperative setting. However, the findings identified that the RNFA must attain the necessary education and training to be a safe and efficient practitioner. Findings also acknowledged the tasks which were associated with the RNFA role and the impact of those tasks on patient care and the multidisciplinary team.

Conclusions: The RNFA role enhanced patient care and assisted in improving efficiency within the operating room while supporting the training of junior doctors and nurses.

Keywords: Training; theatre efficiency; role development; advance practice