Evaluating a specialist nurse’s role in a general paediatric surgical team
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Evaluating a specialist nurse’s role in a general paediatric surgical team

Julie Quick Surgical care practitioner, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, Walsall

The outcome of an audit to assess an interprofessional general surgical team showed that the surgical care practitioners’ role improves continuity and enhances the care of children and their families, as Julie Quick explains

A surgical care practitioner (SCP) is a registered nurse or allied health professional who, following specific education and competency training, carries out pre- and post-operative treatment and some surgical interventions under the supervision of a consultant surgeon, contributing to the maintenance of surgical services and the enhancement of patient care. With a cohesive approach, the SCP can do much to ensure continuity of care and mutual understanding and concordance between staff, child and family. Costs can be reduced and the surgical training of junior doctors supported. The results of this audit show that, with the inclusion of an SCP, higher quality general children’s surgery can be provided at a medium-sized district general hospital, so that patients can be seen locally.

Nursing Children and Young People. 26, 8, 16-20. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.26.8.16.e511

Correspondence

julie.quick@walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to open peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

Received: 02 February 2014

Accepted: 05 June 2014

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