Perform the non-scrubbed circulating role for perioperative procedures
Overview
This standard covers the non-scrubbed circulating role, assisting perioperative teams during perioperative procedures.
This involves preparing and positioning clinical medical devices and equipment, providing these items to the surgical team and monitoring the items used. You will be working under the guidance of a registered practitioner.
All actions and decisions should be carried out in accordance with current legislation, organisational policies, clinical protocols, and professional standards.
Users of this standard will need to communicate effectively to meet individuals' needs and wishes and work in line with health and safety legislation, policy and practices.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1. identify and agree the roles and responsibilities of yourself and others in performing the non-scrubbed circulating role for perioperative procedures
P2. ensure that your position and movements do not compromise the sterile field
P3. take appropriate action without delay if there is any breakdown of the sterile field
P4. select and prepare the correct surgical instrumentation and supplementary items according to the clinical specialty and the anticipated requirements of the operative procedure
P5. make the selected item available to the appropriate member of the team in the prescribed manner, manufacturers instruction and organisational policies and procedures
P6. count and record instruments, needles, swabs and supplementary items prior to commencement and on completion in accordance with organisational policies and procedures
P7. handle and connect medical devices and equipment safely and correctly, in line with manufacturers' instructions and organisational policies
P8. handle and manage contaminated items in line with organisational policies
P9. comply with organisational policies for replacing used items from stock and tracking and traceability requirements
P10. complete all relevant documentation required for performing the non-scrubbed circulating role for perioperative procedures
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1. the current legislation, local guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols which are relevant to your work practice and to which you must adhere
K2. the scope and limitations of your own competence, responsibilities and accountability as it applies to your job role
K3. how to access and interpret all relevant work instructions and information
K4. specific procedures for reporting issues which are beyond your competence, responsibilities and accountability
K5. the hazards and risks which may arise during the execution of your work role and how you can minimise these
K6. the correct use of any equipment and PPE to protect the health and safety of you and others
K7. the role of regulatory bodies in relation to medical and healthcare products and regulations relating to medical devices
K8. the principles of asepsis in relation to:
• the provision of medical devices to the surgical team
• maintenance of sterile field
K9. the potential consequences of poor practice in relation to the preparation, provision and monitoring of medical devices and equipment
K10. the requirements for, suitability of, and types of surgical instrumentation for different procedures and clinical specialities
K11. the action to take if problems are identified with medical devices which have been requested
K12. the principles and techniques for counting and monitoring surgical items and swabs and equipment
K13. the importance of correctly weighing swabs in the estimation of blood loss
K14. the importance of checking and confirming that medical devices are in a suitable condition prior to use
K15. safe moving and handling principles and techniques
K16. the criteria and methods for checking and maintaining the sterility of medical devices used in clinical procedures
K17. the circulating role and responsibility for maintaining the sterile field
K18. the agreed lines of communication within clinical teams in relation to requesting and providing medical devices during clinical procedures
K19. how to complete all relevant documentation required for performing the non-scrubbed circulating role for perioperative procedures