About Department of surgical and operating theatre nursing

The attainment of optimum health by its population is a fundamental indicator of a nation’s development, the efficacy of country’s disease prevention and health promotion efforts is largely dependent on the contributions of its health workforce, with nurse constituting the major component of this team. As the primary caregivers and the largest professional group within the healthcare institutions, nurses possess a unique, continuous perspective on both patient care and hospital operations. Consequently, the educational preparation of nurses at the   bachelor level requires constant refinement to align with the evolving health needs of the society, as education is the key to professional progress and achievement.

A case in point is the department of surgical and operating theatre nursing at Wollega University’s Institute of Health Sciences, School of nursing and Midwifery. Established in 2010 E.C in alignment with the University’s mission, the department was created to address a national shortage of specialized surgical, and operating theatre nurse professional’s by training individuals to provided preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services. To meet the specific demand for surgical care, the department initially launched with two post-basic BSc programs: a two-and-half-year program in surgical nursing (four batches, admitted 115 students), and a complementary program in Operating theatre nursing (three batch, admitted 53 students). Recognizing the ongoing need to fulfill the professional gaps and elevate the level of training, the department has since expanded its educational offering. It continues to run these post-basic programs while also starting a generic Bachelor of Science (BSc) undergraduate program in surgical nursing with 14 students, representing a strategic advancement in preparing a higher-competent nursing workforce.

DEPARTMENT OF SURGICAL AND OPERATING THEATRE NURSIN     

ሰርጅካልና ኦፕሬቲንግ ትያትር ነርሲንግ ትምህርት ክፍል

Overview

• The Department of surgical and Operating Theatre Nursing was established in 2010 as a unit under Institute of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery. Surgical nurse work in dynamic environments, playing a key role in life saving procedure and providing comprehensive perioperative care. The professional scope extends beyond the operating theatre to include impatient clinics/ wards, emergency departments, outpatient surgical centre, home health care, and ambulatory surgical care. Furthermore, their responsibilities encompass research, policy development, advocacy, and management. Additionally, the main rational of Operating theatre nursing program is to produce competent health professionals equipped with the necessary knowledges, skills, and attitude. This is especially crucial for operating theatre nurses, whose advanced training is essential for managing technically complex surgeries. Effective participation in the modern operating room requires a specialised skill set render competent patient care, manage and supervise the operating theatre environment, and function effectively within a multidisciplinary team that includes surgeon and anaesthetist. Ultimately, this specialised preparation is fundamental to elevating hospital nursing standards.

Academic Programs and duration of study

The following specialised nursing programs are offered, with their respective durations of study.

1. BSc in Surgical Nursing (Post-basic)

• Duration: Two and half years

2. BSc in Surgical Nursing (Generic)

• Duration: Four years

3. BSc in Operation theatre Nursing ( Post-basic)

• Duration: Two and half years

Goal of the program

• To produce competent professional surgical, and operative theatre nurses who are able to provide culturally sensitive and high quality comprehensive surgical care at all levels of health care system by incorporating evidence based practice and demonstrates professional, legal and ethical principles using interpersonal relationship and communication skill.

Objective of the program

The programs will:-

• Equip surgical nurses with solid knowledge of biomedical science, clinical and public health practice
• Prepare surgical nurses to provide individualized patient care for patient with surgical disorders using the nursing process as framework.
• Enable surgical nurse’s practice in a professional manner on all level of surgical care setting
• Equip surgical nurses with critical thinking and decision making skills which lead to reflective and responsible practice
• Enable surgical nurses in developing professional communication skill in dealing with client, client’s family and other health professionals.
• Prepare surgical, and operative theatre nurses participate in conducting and utilizing relevant research findings
• Train surgical nurses who apply evidence-based practice to improve quality of patient care.
• Equip surgical nurses to perform selected minor surgical operation
• Equip surgical nurses who design and participate in nursing education and nursing curriculum, professional development
• Train surgical nurses to promote and maintain optimum standards of nursing care with respecting of patients values, culture, belief and dignity.
• Equip surgical nurses with leadership and management skills
• Equip surgical nurses to advocate fulfilling patients’ needs and participating in the professional development.
• Practice operating theatre nurses’ roles during perioperative phases
• Provide perioperative nursing services in respect to patient value, culture, belief and dignity
• Promote safe and healthy perioperative environments for patients and staff
• Promote and maintain optimum standards of perioperative nursing care
• Operate the functionality of equipment and devices used in the operating theatre
• Monitor patient’s condition throughout the perioperative process
• Take part in the administration and organization of operating theatre and in the management of a multidisciplinary team in perioperative care settings

Leadership History

• Getu Mosisa (2010-2012 E.C), the first department head.
• Adugna Oluma (2013-2014 E.C) led until the department merged to comprehensive nursing department
• Aliyi Benti (2017-Present) is currently leading the department from the department reorganized.

Program competencies

Based on existing local and international documents on learning outcomes, the core (essential) competencies surgical care nursing students must demonstrate at the point of graduation are defined. The core competencies are organized in five domains or thematic areas:

1. Professional and ethical practice
2. Surgical Nursing care provision
3. Communication
4. Research, educational and professional development
5. Leadership and management

Accordingly, at the point of graduation the operating theatre nursing students must demonstrate the following core competencies organized in 6 domains or thematic areas:

1. Perioperative Nursing care
2. Inter personal relationships and communication
3. Professional, legal, and ethical practice
4. Management and Leadership
5. Education and professional development
6. Evidence based practice

Admission for post basic program requires ( Surgical, and operating theatre Nurse)

1. Diploma in nursing or a TVET level 4 certificate from a recognized institution
2. Must pass & certified with updated COC examination
3. A minimum of 2 years full-time clinical experience
4. Two recommendation letters from work place. These may be:

• Both from professionals who are able to attest to the applicant‘s professional ability, or
• One academic and one professional letter of recommendation.

5. Applicant must be physically and mentally fit for the profession
6. The applicant must successfully pass the screening process including entrance exam & interview.
7. Sponsorship letter from sponsoring institution

Admission Requirement for generic students

Candidates must be a natural science student in secondary school & preparatory classes and full fill

The following criteria

• Meet the set criteria of the Ministry of Education for degree students to join higher learning institution
• Physically and mentally fit for nursing service.
• Preferably, those who choose to enter the profession.

Procedure for Application

• The applicants should apply to the office of registrar
• The office of the registrar will send the applicants to the department
• The department will select the eligible candidates and notify to the office of the registrar and will be approved by academic commission through the office of registrar.
• After admission candidates have the right for course drop and add according to the rule of the registrar if they fulfil the prerequisite courses
• Candidate can be exempted from non-professional courses ifs/he scored A or B on that specific course.