Mission

The South African Theatre Nurse Organisation - SATS - is a professional organisation, dedicated to enhancing the professionalism of the peri-operative practitioner. We believe in an holistic approach to the peri-operative care of our patients. This is achieved through the optimal sharing of knowledge.

Objectives

• Improve the quality of care and service provided to patients by all peri-operative practitioners.
• Actively encourage the exchange of technical and professional information between SATS members, as well as with other members of the healthcare profession
• Co-operate with professional bodies having similar aims and objectives as SATS, both locally and internationally
• Perform in a manner that entrenches the active and corporate life of the organisation within South Africa’s growing healthcare profession
• Ensure progress for peri-operative nursing in all areas of the profession
• Provide a voice for peri-operative practitioners in the arenas of socio-economic welfare, education, political influence, and health service delivery
• Cultivate a climate of ethical thinking within the profession, between SATS members and other healthcare professionals
• Promote a professional and amicable relationship between operating theatre nurses and specialist medical practitioners
• Represent peri-operative practitioners at local, provincial and national levels.

Vision

• for the ongoing education of peri-operative practitioners
• for peri-operative practitioners to discuss issues relevant to peri-operative nursing practice
• for the promotion of holistic peri-operative care of our patients

Benefits

• Opportunity to increase knowledge
• Opportunity to meet with peri-operative nursing colleagues at local branch meetings and at study days
• Reduced registration fees at biennial SATS National Congress
• Sponsorship to relevant National and International Congresses
• Four quarterly issues of the SATS Journal, the official publication of the Organisation
• Opportunity to attend and socialize at Sport\Fund days, competitions, golf days, etc.
• International networking and membership to IFPN and ICN
• An extensive library and internet facilities

SATS Position Statement

The Registered Peri-operative Practitioner in the Role of Operative Care

SATS believes that in accordance with the Constitution of SA and the Human Rights Charter, every patient has the right to the highest standard of care, according to his or her needs. It is a historical fact that a suitably qualified registered peri-operative practitioner assists the surgeon during a surgical intervention. She is accountable for her acts, commissions and omissions, and that of the support staff. We further believe that every peri-operative practitioner is accountable for his/her personal skills and knowledge development, clinical practice and professional practice.

Be it resolved therefore that SATS:

• Believes that all professional peri-operative nurse practitioners must continuously update and upgrade their skills and knowledge
• Supports and agrees that such knowledge and skills must be provided by a nursing school or organisation, recognised by the SANC, for the purpose of training
• Believes that the role of the registered peri-operative nurse practitioner is optimal to the outcome of the care to the patient
• Believes in the provision and creation of a safe and comfortable environment, direct and indirect care, and the use of nursing judgement, critical thinking and good communication. All these form an integral part of the unique qualities of the peri-operative nurse practitioner
• The peri-operative nurse practitioner can only be accountable and responsible for the actions and behavior of other SANC licensed service providers under her supervision
• Believes that in the event of unlicensed caregivers taking on the responsibilities of the SANC licensed practitioner, the service provider be held accountable for any error in care
• Believes that the peri-operative nurse practitioner must supervise and educate the surgical team, the patient and act as support to the patient and his/her family
• Discourages the deployment of unlicensed personnel in the peri-operative setting, as part of the surgical team
• Strongly supports and endorses that the peri-operative nurse practitioner be in control of the operating room, during invasive and non-invasive procedures so as to ensure optimal care during the three phases of peri-operative care

Staffing in the Operating Room

It is well known that the current demand for peri-operative professional nurse practitioners grossly outweighs the supply.

The average age of peri-operative nurse practitioners ranges between 40-45.

The aging of the current group will have a negative impact on the service to the patient. The daily demands of the profession, the attempts to control costs and to meet financial targets and the demand for higher volumes of work, done by less people, has resulted in many skilled people leaving the profession.

SATS like many other organisations can only address general guidelines and recommends that nurse-patient ratios be developed, taking into consideration the safety of the patient, the level of care required, patient acuities and the availability of resources.

Therefore be it resolved that SATS:

• Believes that nursing is both an art and a science
• Urges managers to examine and include factors of nursing competence, patient safety, patient acuity, and availability of resources, when determining nurse-patient ratios
• Recommends that nurse-patient ratios be developed with inclusion and compliance to the Labour Relations Act and the Basic Condition of Service Act
• Supports the use of evidence based research and the identification of quality indicators and patient outcomes to monitor the nurse- patient ratios
• Urges managers to provide support and the establishment of a “no blame” relationship between surgeons, peri-operative staff and management
• Believes that consideration be given to impeding factors as identified in the provision of adequate staffing
• Affirms that during invasive surgical procedures, the minimum nurse- patient ratio recommendation, is one registered professional nurse,one circulating and one anaesthetic nurse.( Enrolled or Registered)
• Recommends the above as minimum requirements for all surgery
• Will continue to discourage the use of unlicensed practitioners to replace peri-operative professional practitioners
• Rejects the use of the economic situation of the provider as a basis for providing inadequate staffing numbers
• Recommends that nurse- patient ratios be developed in consideration with community and the population served
• Encourages the defining and development of nurse- patient ratios that include patient safety regulations, available legislation, error prevention and sustainable positive outcomes