A changing role

At the forefront: Patients expect a surgeon to operate on them, but Sara Dalby (left in the picture) is one of a small group of nurses in the United Kingdom who have moved to the role of surgical care practitioner (SCP). Her role has become even more special: ‘she can carry out surgeries, such as facial skin cancer excisions, with possible skin grafts and flap reconstructions, without a consultant by her side’. An SCP, as defined by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS), is involved with the patient from the moment they set foot in the hospital until the moment they go home. SCPs take part in everything from preoperative assessments – including taking histories and conducting physical exams – to assisting in theatre, training trainee surgeons, and postoperative care, such as wound assessment and discharging patients. NHS data shows as many as seven SCPs at University Hospital of North Tees. Becoming an SCP requires a background as a registered health-care professional, such as a nurse, a love of clinical practice and academic aptitude. The recommended training is ‘a two-year master’s programme at university, which a much higher barrier to entry than training for general nursing roles’. Ms. Dalby’s interest in surgery grew throughout her career – from observing a hip replacement as a student nurse to training as one of the hospital’s first surgical first assistants. is now Aintree University hospital’s only SCP and works across two specialities – the maxillofacial unit and upper limb orthopaedics.

Another door opens: Patients expect a surgeon to operate on them, but Sara Dalby (left) is one of a small group of nurses in the United Kingdom who have moved to the role of surgical care practitioner (SCP). Her role has become even more special. ‘She can carry out surgeries, such as facial skin cancer excisions, with possible skin grafts and ap reconstructions, without a consultant by her side’. An SCP, as defined by the Royal College of Surgeons, is involved with the patients from the moment they set foot in the hospital until the moment they go home. ‘SCPs take part in everything from preoperative assessments — including taking histories and conducting physical exams — to assisting in theatre, training trainee surgeons, and postoperative care, such as wound assessment and discharging patients. Becoming an SCP requires a background as a registered health-care professional, such as nursing, a love of clinical practice and academic aptitude’. The recommended training is ‘a two-year master’s programme at university, which is a much higher barrier to entry than training for general nursing roles’. Ms. Dalby, whose interest in surgery grew throughout her career, is now Aintree University hospital’s only SCP and works across two specialities — the maxillofacial unit and upper limb orthopaedics. * AFP