Perioperative Nursing Assistant Program
By: Beverley Anderson, RN, CNOR; Debra Belgard, RN, CNOR; and Christine Castillo, RN
The Operating Room (OR) is a unique environment for all skill levels. Introduction to the OR is
provided for the surgeons, physician assistants, first assistants, nurses, perfusionists, and surgery technicians. The nursing assistant programs currently offered do not have an operating room component to their programs, which often leaves applicants for the position of OR nursing assistant without any background in the operating room. When hired into the OR, these new employees must be trained for work in this specialized area. That means on the job training through the Perioperative Nursing Assistant Program. With OR managers and nurses recognizing the unique role of the nursing assistant, Hong Tran, OR Director, was instrumental in piloting this program in Scurlock Operating Room. The course was developed with the assistance of seasoned nursing assistants, who contributed content suggestions and feedback for the educators. The classes are currently presented quarterly to both novice and experienced perioperative nursing assistants at Houston Methodist Hospital. Their feedback continues to be positive regarding the education they are receiving. Class topics include: role of the PNA, aseptic technique, and safe movement in and around the OR. The Workforce Grant awarded to our organization provided a pilot geared at taking an individual from an ancillary role such as housekeeping and dietary services to a new role in the OR. Employees began signing up for the classes being offered, which demonstrated their willingness to expand their horizons through education and self motivation. The program’s goal is to offer a platform for the worker to move into an OR role. By providing this PNA program, we hope that participants will progress into programs for other health care specialty programs such as sterile processing and surgical technology. Our first class held in January, 2013, at HCCS Coleman College, had a full roster. Beverley Anderson, RN, CNOR, and Debra Belgard, RN, CNOR, taught 10 students from Houston Methodist entities. The students were educated through lectures, skills labs and shadowing opportunities with a PNA. Our experienced PNAs from FBOR, Dunn 3 OR, Dunn 6 OR, OPC, Neurosensory OR and MOR spent a day sharing real world OR experiences with the participants. Each student provided positive comments about their experience and expressed their desire to work in the Operating room setting.
12 Methodist Nurse