How much do level 2 (year1 ) students do in theatre?

Re: How much do level 2 (year1 ) students do in theatre?

shaun sinclair — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:22:52 GMT

Thanks emma, and others for your posts. Of course I remember you! Hope you are enjoying practice, and Alphavet. Things are fine here!!

Re: How much do level 2 (year1 ) students do in theatre?

Emma Jarratt — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:12:13 GMT

Hi Shaun

Remember me? I used to see practice with you! I'm still at Alphavet, but I'm also an assessor for the nursing NVQs now as well. Hope all is well at Fenton.

Our student VNs are involved at whatever level they individually are capable of doing. Currently we have 4 'level 2s' - one nearly finished her level 2 and very capable, been with us nearly 2y, she does as much in theatre as the head VN will do. One just started level 2, been with us 1y, she will monitor uncomplicated GAs with a qualifed VN at close call, and will do more complex cases under direct supervision of a senior nurse. Then there is one who will start level 2 in the next few months, been with us about 6m, who only monitors sedations at present, and always with other people around, and then one 6-month degree placement student, who has no previous experience, and will not get near theatre during this placement at all.

So basically we make the assessment on the individual's skills/ability/confidence and take it as a separate issue to what level they are at on the NVQs.

Re: How much do level 2 (year1 ) students do in theatre?

Hanna Bennett — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:53:55 GMT

guess it depends on your staffing levels. we have a qualified and a trainee in theatre every day, usually start the trainees in theatre after at least three months in ward - means the trainee gets experience in placing catheters, tubing animals, monitoring anaesthetics, but without the pressure of being the only nurse in theatre, and they have some experience in restraint by this point.

as for on call, we only have our qualifieds do this but again we have 5 qualified nurses so are lucky this way.

Re: How much do level 2 (year1 ) students do in theatre?

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:22:34 GMT

This will sound simplistic - but the answer is, they do everything. Ideally, they are always supervised by a VN, but unfortunately this isn't always possible. In the UK there are 24000 vets but I believe there are only 8000 VNs. This dictates that there cannot always be a VN monitoring every anaesthetic.

My other comment would be - how else do they learn if they cannot help in theatre at all?

As far as OOH, I guess it depends on the number of qualified VNs. We have 2 VNs, 1 SVN, 1 'experienced nurse' and 2 ANAs. We couldn't expect the VNs to cover all the weekends. So the others have to do it.