Appendix 1K
Unit Orientation
Periop
Nursing Competency Workbook, 3rd Edition
RCH, Peri-op, Nursing Orientation Manual, Jan 2012
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The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Nursing Competency Workbook is a dynamic document that will
provide you with direction and assist you in your professional development as a nurse working at the
RCH. The workbook also provides a record of your orientation and competency obtainment.
Chapter 1

Includes resources for nurses and is complemented by the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) New
Starter Pack, Hospital Orientation and Nursing Orientation day, to provide an introduction to
nursing at the RCH.
Chapter 2

Generic Nursing Competency Assessment Forms
Chapter 3

Specialty Nursing Competency Assessment Forms
Appendix 1

Unit / Department Nursing Orientation
All chapters and appendices are downloadable as pdfs from the Nursing Education Website.
The RCH Nursing Competency Workbook developed by Nursing Education with input from
specialist nurses at the RCH.
For further information contact:
Melody Trueman
Director, Nursing Education
Email melody.trueman@rch.org.au
Workbook 3rd edition February 2012
Updated October 2012
RCH, Peri-op, Nursing Orientation Manual, Jan 2012
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Introduction
The Royal Children’s Hospital is a specialist paediatric hospital providing a full range of clinical services
to the community. It has 250 beds and treats approximately 32,000 inpatients each year. A total of
280,000 children are treated by the hospital annually.
Peri Operative Suite Profile
The Peri Operative Suite is located on level 3, East building.
Access points:
 The day of surgery patient reception is positioned opposite the yellow lifts , over the bridge and
signed posted ‘Surgery Reception J”
 The floor can also be easily accessed from the green lifts ( entrance sign posted “Recovery”)
This is also the afterhours entrance for recovery.
 The clinical transport lifts are close to the entrance signposted “Theatres and MRI” – this
pathway is used for transporting patients to and from the wards, as well as for staff visiting the
in charge office
The Peri Operative Suite is made up of 14 Theatres, a CSSD department, Stage 1 Recovery, Stage 2
Recovery and a 14 bed Surgical Short Stay unit named “Possum.
Theatres are nominated to specialities, however any procedure can be done in any theatre with
exception of theatre one which is limited to endoscopy, thoracic and haematology. Theatres have been
organised in three clusters:
 High turnover – theatre 1-3 which includes the endoscopy theatre
 General theatres – theatres 4-9
 Specialist theatres 10 – 14 which includes the emergency theatre, cardiac and an intraoperative MRI facility which incorporates the Cardiac Catheter Lab and Neurosurgical theatre.
Each theatre is fully integrated and has a number of features including pendants, AV system, work
stations, intercom and lights.
In excess of 16, 000 procedures are performed yearly with a month average of 1300 procedures.
Patients range from newborn premature babies to adolescents. Operating Theatre staff combines care
of the child and family unit with the demands of complex technological procedures.
The Operating Suite
Welcome to the Operating Suite. The experience you gain here will give you a greater understanding of
caring for the paediatric patient and their family during the perioperative phase of their care.
The RCH Philosophy
1. Our purpose is to provide quality care for all children undergoing surgery
2. The staff of the Operating Suite believe that each patient is an individual with unique physical,
emotional, social, cultural and spiritual needs
3. The staff of the Operating Suite are committed to continuous improvement of care through
teaching, research and the provision of opportunities for continuing education for all staff
Unit Objectives
The staff of the Operating Suite will endeavour at all times to:
1. Promote cooperative planning and coordination of activities of all staff in the Operating Room in
order to achieve total care of the patient and their family
2. Promote and support all policies of the Hospital and Operating Suite, including fire, safety and
disaster procedures
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3. Maintain a safe environment for patients and staff by recognition of hazards and awareness of
safety and evacuation procedures
4. Maintain standards at an optimal level by participation in the Hospital Continuous Quality
Improvement Program
5. Cooperate in medical and nursing research programs
6. Maintain an ongoing education program for staff
Operating Times
Each Operating Theatre has a maximum of two elective operating sessions per day. Some lists run all
day with the same surgeon.
Each session is allocated 4 hours:
The Morning session is:
The Afternoon session is:
08:30 – 12:30
13:30 – 17:30
Theatre 10, the emergency theatre operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Theatre Reception
Contact Numbers
Ext: 55244 / 55240
Theatre fax number
9345 5278
Reception staff:
Gina Sant
Ringa Iraia
Vivien Miles
Fire, Evacuation & Medical Emergencies
Tour the unit. Locate exit signs, fire extinguishers, the break glass, fire hose reels, fire escapes and
WIP phone.
In an emergency when a Code Red is called if you are not in your allocated theatre please return to it
and follow instructions from the nurse in charge. Read the “Emergency Procedures” on the HR website
and complete the online Emergency Procedures Test.
Medical emergencies in the Operating Suite are managed primarily by anaesthetists and anaesthetic
technologists; however, as a registered nurse you must be able to offer assistance and support. To call
a code, ring 777 and state the code being called, i.e. Type of emergency, your name, and exact
location
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Nursing Personnel
Nursing personnel within the Operating Suite are comprised of Registered and
Enrolled Nurses
TITLE
NAME
Director of Clinical Operations
Rosemary Aisbett
Nurse Unit Manager Theatre
Jeramie Carson
Nurse Unit Manager Stage 1
Recovery (Acting)
Simone Kelly
Nurse Unit Manager Possum
Paul Griffth
Nurse Unit Manager Medical
Imaging
Nikki Craze
Nurse Unit Manager Day of
Surgery Centre
Elise Brown
Clinical Nurse Educator
Carolyn Sahhar
Clinical Nurse Facilitator Theatres
Clinical Nurse Facilitator
Recovery (Acting)
Clinical Nurse Facilitator
MI, DOSC & CSSD
Karen Sullivan
Tania Ramos
Patricia Josipovic
EXT
PAGER
55057
5057
56188
6188
55523
5523
55305
56992
5681
55386
5386
55340
5340
55340
Vocera
55340
Vocera
55340
Vocera
Anaesthetic Technologist
Facilitator
Andy Schermuly
55340
Vocera
Anaesthetic Technologist
Manager
Barbara Feltham
55251
4130
AUM: Floor Coordinators
Robyn Morgan
Dave Curtin
52001
AUM: Plastic Th 5 &6 (Acting)
Jen Mackinnon
51171
AUM: ENT
Pam Crouch
51164
AUM: Theatre 10
Annelise Larrson
54624
AUM: Neuro Th 14
Marie Devlin
51133
AUM: Ortho Th 7 & 8
Sonia Mouat
51165
AUM: Urology Th 9
Trish Baxter
51161
AUM: General Surg Th 4
Nimmi Dadlani
51163
AUM: Cardiac Th 11 & 12
Bambang Kurnia
51173
AUM: Medical Imaging
Dianne Clarence
AUM: Recovery
Lai Cheng Yee
Th 2 &3
55253 / 4
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Occupational Health & Safety
The Occupational Health and Safety board is situated in the main passage way outside theatre 3. Here
you will find information about OH&S and photos of the committee members here in theatre. The
OH&S information folder is found in the roster room.
Royal Children’s Hospital Operating Suite OH&S Committee Members:
Rosemary Aisbett
Martin Bennett
Eddie Cousinery
Suan Ooi
Elizabeth Pietrzak/Anton
VanderValk
Job Verzosa
Chairperson
Cardiac Perfusionist
Anaesthetic Technician
RN Recovery + Smartlift
RN Theatre
Theatre Assistant
Theatre Policy & Procedure Manuals
The Operating Suite Policy and Procedure Manual is on the intranet, under Division of Surgery. All staff
members should be familiar with these policies and procedures and refer to them in their daily
activities.
Communication
1. Telephone
Internal hospital phone number, the hospital prefix is - 9345, with the last five numbers being the
extension number, i.e. theatre extension is – 5244
To make an internal call the extension number is all that is required. To make an external call from
within the hospital you need to dial - 0 first then the number you require.
To ring the switchboard dial – 91
2. Paging
There are two ways to page personnel
 Lan Paging system on the computer - which will be shown to you
 Page via switch asking them to page the person for you
 Ascom Phones are allocated daily to all In Charge personnel and PSA/Theatre Technician
 Vocera are allocated to some clinical staff
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Employee Information
Time Sheets
A hospital generated time sheet with your name and employee number will be issued to you. These
sheets come from pay office and are placed in your filing slot in the roster room. Time sheets must be
completed by the Friday prior to pay day for the Unit Manager to authorize. All staff are paid on a
fortnightly bases. If working the weekend before pay week, time sheets are to be completed first thing
Monday morning for the manager to sign.
Rosters & Shifts
At present the Operating Suite has staff self rostering. Changes to shifts can be made by swapping
with a staff member of equal grade. A change of shift form is to be completed and sent to the:
ROS Office – we anticipate this changing to an online form at some stage.
Day shift:
Mon-Fri: 0715-1645, 0815–1800 or 0930-1915.
This is a 9 hour day with 45 min for lunch. This rostering equals 9 shifts on and 5 days off a fortnight,
with an allocated ADO each month.
PM shift:
Mon-Fri: 1200 – 2130, 30 minute meal break.
Weekend shifts:
0730-1700 & 1200-2130, with 30 min breaks
Night Duty:
2100 – 0730
4th on Call:
1800 - 0800
Calling in Sick
When calling in sick for your shift please ring the operating suite reception on 93455244
Staff Car Park
If you require car parking, please see the Unit Manager to arrange something for you.
Education Sessions
Staff education sessions occur once a week on a rotating morning through the year. These sessions
start at 0800 and finish at 0830.
On these mornings you are required to be at work 15 minutes earlier than normal and you will finish
15 minutes earlier. What’s on at these sessions are emailed to you and posted on the allocation board.
Staff Lockers
All staff are allocated a locker. This maybe a quarter or half locker or you may have to share a locker
with another employee. All lockers have a Digi 4 lock coding. The lock is activated once a 4 digit code
is entered.
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New Nursing Staff Checklist
On completion of your orientation the following areas should have been covered:



















Operating Suites 1 – 14
Pre Op Hold
Stage 1 and Stage 2 Recovery
In Charge Office
Tearoom
Set Up Areas
Utility room
Equipment Bays
Computer room / Roster
Description of Roles in the Operating Suite
Description of Shift Duties
Parent’s Waiting Room
Education / NUM office
Meeting Rooms
Reception J
Possum Ward
Rosella Ward (ICU)
Butterfly Ward (Neonates)
CSSD
Communication








Telephone / Paging
Count Sheet
Instrument Tracking/TDOC
ORMIS – Computer Training
RISKMAN
Intranet Services
Vocera
Ascom
Occupational Health & Safety







Manual Handling
Smart Lift
Latex Allergy Pack
Personal Protective Equipment
Specimen Handling
Steris Training
Cytotoxic Waste Handling / Spill Kit
Policy & Procedures







Response Codes
Fire Exits / Extinguishers / Alarms
Fire Assembly Areas
Medical Emergency Alarms
ACORN Manual
Theatre Policy & Procedure Manual
After Hours / On Call Guidelines
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Orientation Checklist 2
TOPIC
REFERENCE PERSON
Occupation
Health & Safety
Anton VanderValk
Suan Ooi
Elizabeth Pietrzak
PBLS information
/ assessors
Carolyn Sahhar
Karen Sullivan
Tania Ramos
Patricia Josipovic
Infection Control
and
Hand Hygiene
Dave Curtin
Laser Education
Pam Crouch
ORMIS training
Marg Costa
Emergency
Procedures
Robyn Morgan
Smart Lift
Carolyn Sahhar
Amanda Crooks
Shelly Hollingsworth
Suan Ooi
DATE
ASSESOR
Name & Signature
Birgit Engert-Hagen
Katie Mackay
Jilli Zhou
NAME: _______________________________________
SIGNATURE: __________________________________
DATE: ________________________________________
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