School of Nursing

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Browsing School of Nursing by Author "Botha, Margaretha Jansje"

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    Minimum competencies for the diploma in non-nursing operating department assistance in South Africa
    (University of the Free State, 2015-07) Botha, Margaretha Jansje; Joubert, A.
    English: A new era in the operating room science saw the light with the implementation of the diploma in non-nursing Operating Department Assistance in South Africa. This diploma is currently presented in a private hospital group in South Africa. The training was necessitated by the shortage of operating room nurses in South Africa. The Operating Department Assistants (ODAs) undergo a three year diploma course that is accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 6. The ODAs are not registered with any statuary body and the minimum competencies have not been set for this Allied Health category. In this research the minimum competencies for the diploma in non-nursing Operating Department Assistance in South Africa was agreed upon, by making use of the Delphi Technique to gain consensus on the competencies. A quantitative research design was used for this research. The study was conducted in three phases. In phase one, respondents were asked to list the competencies they expected from the ODAs after completion of their diploma in the clinical setting. At the same time competencies listed in literature were identified via a literature search. These two lists of competencies were combined into a data sheet compiled from those competencies that were agreed upon. A second data sheet was then compiled, with the agreed competencies listed in alphabetical order which the respondents had to rank according to importance. In the third and last data sheet, all competencies that were agreed upon that attained an average aggregate of 70% and higher, were listed alphabetically and respondents had to indicate their agreement of the competencies. Results were listed according to knowledge in the pre-, intra, and post-operative phases. These included knowledge regarding the preparation of the operating room, correct handling of instruments, and the correct handover of the patient to the post-anaesthesia care personnel. Some of the skills that were listed in the pre-, intra-, and post-operative phases include the checking for correct functioning of equipment used during surgery, application of aseptic and sterile technique, and the management of specimens. The peri-operative attitudes that were listed included honesty, respectfulness, positivity, professionalism, respect for patients and colleagues, and surgical conscience. The results of the study were finally compiled and recommendations were made to facilities responsible for the training of the Operating Department Assistants.