Ms. Aryaa Sivalingam1, Ms. Valerie Chu2, Dr Annabelle Huguenin1,2, Dr Lai-yang Lee1,3, Dr Ruth Cameron-Jeffs1, Dr Mooska Raoofi1, Ms. Carmen Barry1, Ms. Anna Di Cosmo1, Ms. Deb Rhodes1
1Royal Women’s hospital, Parkville, Australia, 2Melbourne University, Parkville, Australia, 3Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Australia
Biography:
Aryaa is an Infection Prevention Clinical Nurse Consultant at the Women's. Having worked as a Registered Nurse and completed a Master's in Public Health, Aryaa brings a diverse understanding of public health and safety to the team, and has a strong interest in sustainability, diversity and inclusion.
Abstract:
The Royal Women’s is a teaching hospital in Melbourne that provides maternity, neonatal and women’s health services. In April 2024, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) were approached by the medical student co-ordinator, advocating for a third-year wheelchair-using medical student who was keenly interested in surgery and had not experienced being part of a surgical team in operating theatres like other students.
We aimed to develop a plan that prioritised safety and maintained surgical asepsis, whilst supporting this student’s learning experience.
A literature review found two case studies where adjustments had been made for a surgeon and a student with diverse mobility needs to return to the operating room.
In the absence of Australian guidelines, we consulted directly with the Australian College of Operating Room Nurses (ACORN) for additional recommendations.
Collaboration occurred between the surgeon, operating theatre manager, IPC, diversity and inclusion, workplace health and safety, and the student.
A work instruction was developed which included: relevant adjustments for surgical scrubbing; cleaning requirements for entering restricted areas; gloving and gowning; personal protective equipment; mobility within the operating theatre and procedure selection.
The collaborating team were unanimous this was a beneficial experience which was easy to implement. There were no reported breaches in aseptic technique or adverse events.
The ACORN confirmed their standards review will include surgical team members with additional mobility needs.
We facilitated a successful, positive learning experience in operating theatres for a wheelchair-using medical student, and have a work instruction to support this in the future.