Operating assistant (Operatieassistent)
Information on this skill...
An operating assistant is responsible for various activities related to operations, such as assisting before and during the operations and circulation. The circulation relates to the sterility of materials and instruments. An operating assistant is an important help from the cutting specialists during operations. In short, we can describe the work of an operations assistant as assisting the operations team by indicating the right materials and instruments if they are needed. However, the field of an operations assistant is broader than just offering materials and instruments. Think, for example, of connecting machines, monitoring the sterility of patients and guiding patients in advance. In addition, the operations assistant is responsible for administrative work. It is possible that an operating assistant has a nursing background, but this does not always have to be the case. The work of an operating assistant can be regarded as important work, because surgeons are highly dependent on good surgical assistants. It is the surgical assistants who provide all the necessary work materials, such as instruments, suture materials and other materials. Monitoring sterility is also specifically a task of an operating assistant. An operating assistant will in all cases work under the responsibility of the relevant cutting specialists, but also performs work independently. Think, for example, of keeping the wound area clean, using the suction hose or dabbing with gauze. Also, holding wound hooks is generally part of the tasks of the surgical assistant. An operating assistant, who is only responsible for the circulation (indicate materials) does not belong to the sterile team. An assisting surgical assistant (instrumental) does belong to the sterile team.
An operating assistant is therefore responsible for supporting activities, so that surgeons can fully focus their attention on the patients. In addition, surgical assistants are responsible for supervising patients and responsible for preparing the operating room. The surgical assistant can also be seen as an extra pair of hands of the cutting specialist. The function of operating assistant actually has two different functions. Surgical assistants, who are responsible for the circulation of materials, do not belong to the sterile team. Assisting surgical assistants do belong to the sterile team. An operating assistant, who is responsible for circulation, opens non-sterile packages, to pass on the sterile contents to the assisting surgical assistant. In addition, the profession of surgical assistant occurs at MBO level and at HBO level. An operating assistant at MBO level is also called an operative care employee. An operative care employee has fewer powers and responsibilities than an operating assistant at hbo level. An operations assistant at hbo level is involved in the more complex operations. Think, for example, of gynecology, urology and plastic surgery.
STERILE OPERATING ROOM
Sterility of the operating room, the instruments, the materials and the team of specialists plays an important role. A surgeon must be sterile and may not open packages himself, which contain, for example, gauze or sutures, because these packages are not sterile. It is the surgical assistant, who will open the package and pass on the contents, without touching them, to prevent contamination. As described earlier, there may also be multiple surgical assistants. It is not the case that all surgical assistants belong to the sterile team. This depends on the specific work. Hygienic working is also very important for employees who do not belong to the sterile team.
STERILIZATION OF INSTRUMENTS
The sterilization of instruments, such as medical instruments, can only be carried out after they have been disinfected. The disinfection of the instruments is done with a chemical such as alcohol derivatives, aldehydes, chlorine derivatives or phenol derivatives. This can be done manually or by means of an ultrasonic cleaner. In addition, there are special instrument washing machines. After disinfecting instruments, the real sterilization can only begin, which can be carried out in different ways depending on the type of instruments. The actual sterilization can be carried out by heating and by low temperatures. Low heating usually applies to instruments that cannot tolerate high temperatures or moisture, such as sensitive instruments for looking inside the body. Sterilization with high temperatures can be carried out by hot air or by means of steam.
ACTIVITIES OF AN OPERATING ASSISTANT ARE:
- Administration work
- Assisting the surgeon
- Getting the operating room ready for operation
- Guiding the patient
- Monitoring sterility (patient and operating room)
- Reassuring the patient
WHAT DOES AN OPERATING ASSISTANT DO:
TRAINING TO BECOME AN OPERATING ASSISTANT
Anyone who aspires to a career as an operating assistant will have to follow the surgical assistant training, which will take about three years to complete. It is also possible to combine this training with the training to become an anaesthetist. However, the combined training will take up to six years. Most courses are offered by hospitals, usually in collaboration with a university of applied sciences. It is also possible to participate as a nurse in the surgical assistant training if you have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing. The surgical assistant training is a combined training, in which you will work and learn. The training to become an anaesthetist employee should be seen as a course at hbo level. For more information, see also the National Association of Surgical Assistants.
COMPANIES WHERE AN OPERATIONS ASSISTANT CAN BE EMPLOYED
As an operating assistant, you will work in the operating department of a general, academic or specialist hospital. You can also work in private clinics or at outpatient clinics where minor operations are performed.
COMPETENCES OPERATIONS ASSISTANT
As an operating assistant, you have to be flexible and stress-resistant, because as an operating assistant you regularly have to deal with emergencies. In addition, good endurance plays an important role, because the working days can be long and operations can take a long time. Despite the fact that the working days and operations can be long, as an operating assistant you should not lose concentration. The ability to concentrate and the orderly work are important competences. Finally, it is also important to mention that an operating assistant must have excellent communication skills, because good communication will prevent mistakes. Generally important words are insight, cooperation, planning, organizing, control, vigilance, sense of responsibility, energy and passion.
LABOUR MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS AN OPERATING ASSISTANT
The labour market perspective of an operating assistant is good. However, it is important to follow the training to become an operating assistant, because otherwise there are no opportunities for a job. The career opportunities of an operating assistant should be seen in following extra training, which gives you more powers. Think of the position of quality officer or the position of trainer of new surgical assistants. The possible career opportunities are strongly dependent on the current level of education and your own competencies.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY OF OPERATING ASSISTANT
In general, as an operating assistant, you will fall under the collective labour agreement for hospitals, in which the employment conditions are regulated. An operations assistant will generally earn a salary between 2400 and 3500 euros gross per month, depending on age, education and further responsibilities. At other institutions such as a private clinic, the salary can be higher. During the training to become an operating assistant, in most cases the salary will be lower. However, this can differ per hospital, because not all hospitals have the same rules with regard to surgical assistants in training.
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Lea esta información sobre Asistente de operaciones en español.
Lees deze informatie over Operatieassistent in het Nederlands.
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