Theater nurses advocate for specialized training for proper patient care

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Nurses working in operating theaters are advocating for specialized training in preoperative nursing to ensure proper patient care. Preoperative nursing involves comprehensive care provided to patients before undergoing surgery, encompassing health assessment, physical and emotional preparation for surgery, and ensuring readiness for the procedure.

Leila Naluyima, a nursing officer at Uganda Cancer Institute and the charge nurse at the operating theater, highlights the lack of additional training in this specialized area for nurses following their basic training.

Speaking at the sidelines of the annual surgical scientific conference and exhibition, Naluyima emphasized the complexities of operating theaters, stressing the need for enhanced training to enable nurses to work effectively.

Naluyima underscores the importance of empowering theater nurses with advanced knowledge and skills specific to their practice. She points out that without adequate training, nurses may lack the necessary skills and knowledge to handle various tasks in the operating room, compromising patient care.

Additionally, she advocates for training nurses in surgical counts, a critical aspect of ensuring patient safety during surgical procedures.  She calls upon the government, the National Council for Higher Education, the Ministry of Health, and all stakeholders involved in nursing education to prioritize specialty training for nurses in the surgical field, in addition to their basic training.

Professor Frank Asiimwe, the outgoing president of the Association of Surgeons of Uganda, acknowledges the necessity of such specialized training for nurses. However, he notes challenges faced by surgeons in retaining trained nurses, as they may be transferred to other departments without adequate notice, disrupting the continuity of care.

He urges the nursing fraternity to consider the implications of such changes on patient care and emphasizes the importance of retention in specialized areas post-training. Asiimwe highlights concerns in the transplant department regarding trained nurses potentially being reassigned after receiving specialized training, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and orientation when implementing such changes.

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