Medical Specialties Commons^™

What Is The Scope Of Practice Of The Nurse Practitioner As A Surgical Assistant In Australia?, Toni G. Hains, Catherine L. Smith

Journal of Perioperative Nursing

Discussion around the scope of practice of all nurse practitioners (NPs) in Australia was a component of the recent review of NPs’ eligibility to have broader access to the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS). This review process has been prolonged and, while the MBS review officially concluded on the 30 June 2020, no information regarding decisions about expanded NP access to the MBS for patient rebates had been disclosed at the time of publication. It is anticipated that the MBS review will contribute little change to NP access to the MBS.

The MBS is the primary funding process for private-sector medical …

Knowledge And Perceptions Of The Nmsa Role In Australia: A Perioperative Staff Survey, Toni Hains, Catherine Turner, Haakan Strand

Journal of Perioperative Nursing

In Australia, the role of the Non-Medical Surgical Assistant (NMSA) lacks recognition and professional regulation. This paper reports the findings of a recent survey of Australian perioperative staff [n=116] to determine their knowledge and perceptions of the NMSA role. The survey findings confirm that the role is not well established across the Australian health care system. Of concern is that perioperative staff are required to fill the role of surgical assistant on an impromptu basis. NMSAs with no post-graduate qualifications are perceived by perioperative staff to be less equipped in mentoring, leadership, theatre efficiency, safety and procedural knowledge. There was …