PRESS RELEASE 26 Nov 03 FIRST OPERATING ROOM SCIENTIFIC MEETING: Changing Trends in Perioperative Nursing 29-30 Nov (Sat-Sun), The Department of Nursing, National University Hospital, is proud to organise the first operating room scientific meeting in Singapore. The theme of this inaugural event is the changing trends in perioperative nursing, which covers the full spectrum (pre-operation, intra-operation and post-operation) of nurses work in any surgical operation. This event underscores and aims to highlight the rapid advances in surgical techniques and technology and the implications on past, present and future roles of operating room (OR) nurses. More than 250 nurses from across public (Singhealth and NHG) and private hospitals in Singapore, Southeast Asia, India and China will be attending this 2-day event. The Guest of Honour at the Opening Ceremony is Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Minister of State for Health and Transport. Traditional to Current Operating Room Nursing Roles The roles of OR nurses have evolved and progressed over the years. Traditionally, OR nurses worked within the boundaries of the operating theatre. An OR nurse was a surgeon s assistant, performing activities such as passing instruments and maintaining an aseptic environment. Some of these activities remain an integral part of the role of OR nurses. However, much of today s OR nursing (or now better termed as perioperative nursing) encompasses a wider scope of practice and has shifted out of the confines of the operating room to the temporal boundaries of pre-operative patient assessment, intra-operative care, and post-operative evaluation. 1 of 5
Pre-operative In NUH, perioperative nurses are beginning to work more closely with ward nurses who conduct pre-operative education for patients before their surgeries. During these pre-operative education sessions, ward nurses address any questions that patients may have and in so doing, allay their fears regarding the surgeries. Many overseas researches have shown that giving patients adequate information and explanation regarding their medical conditions and impending surgeries pre-operatively will enhance postoperative recovery. Intra-operative With surgical procedures becoming more complex and technologically demanding, more surgeons are subspecialising to improve their effectiveness. To move in tandem, more NUH perioperative nurses are also subspecialising in areas such as minimally invasive surgery and hand reconstructive microsurgery. Post-operative NUH perioperative nurses are increasingly getting involved in pre-assessing patients condition for discharge from the recovery room to a normal ward. Previously, review of post-operative patients were done by anaesthetists only. Now, perioperative nurses are trained to monitor the condition of postoperative patients and alert anesthetists on patients who may be well enough to be discharged to the normal wards. The Future Roles of Perioperative Nurses in Singapore Perioperative nurses in countries such as Australia have been the forerunners in developing the functions and standards of perioperative nursing. Some of these overseas experts have been invited to share their experience at this 2- day scientific meeting. NUH doctors will also share with participants the latest advancements in areas like colorectal and spinal surgeries. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The media are cordially invited to attend the Opening Ceremony and the 2- day scientific meeting. Please refer to Annex A for programme. Kindly contact Liew Yen Lin, Senior Executive, Media Relations, NUH at Tel: 67724694 or liewyl@nuh.com.sg to RSVP or for more information. 2 of 5
Annex A Opening Ceremony (29 November 03) 0800 Registration And Temperature Check 0845 Guests to be Seated 0855 Welcome Address Mrs Lee Siu Yin, Director of Nursing, NUH 0900 Opening Address By Guest of Honour Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Minister of State (Health & Transport) 0910 Keynote Address - The Future Is Not What It Was Changing Trends and Challenges Nurse Consultant & Healthcare Planners, Australia 0940 Updates on Peritoneal Adhesion Formation and Prevention Prof Clement Chan, Head, Dept of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Royal Hobart Hospital, Australia 1000 The Impact of Technological Changes In Surgery on the Work of OR Nurses Dr Lynne Johnstone, Lecturer, School of Public Health, Australia 1030 Q & A 1045 Morning Tea Reception Day One Programme (29 Nov 03, Sat) 1115 Surgical Options In Treating Advanced Heart Failure Prof Lee Chuen Neng, Director, The Heart Institute, National Healthcare Group Senior Consultant, Chief, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic & Vascular Surgery, NUH 1135 The Perceived and Actual Cost Benefits of Adopting New Surgical Technologies Dr Lynne Johnstone, Lecturer, School of Public Health, Australia. 1205 Monitoring in Anaesthesia Dr Wong Weng Hoa, Consultant, Department of Anaesthesia, NUH 3 of 5
1225 Managing Risk in A Changing Environment Ms Jo-Anne Fletcher, Clinical Research Manager, Research and Development Unit, Australia. 1255 Q & A 1310 Lunch 1410 Colorectal Surgery Reloaded Dr Charles Tsang, Consultant, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, NUH 1430 Recent Advances & Innovative Techniques in Spinal Surgery A/P Wong Hee Kit, Senior Consultant, Head, Division of Spinal Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NUH 1500 New Advances in Hand & Microsurgery A/P Lim Beng Hai, Senior Consultant, Chief, Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery, NUH 1520 Robots: Coming Soon To An OR Near You Dr Kum Cheng Kiong, Mount Elizabeth Hospital Dr Susan Lim, Gleneagles Hospital 1540 Q & A 1555 Afternoon Tea Day Two Programme (30 Nov 03, Sun) 0900 Planning Today For Tomorrow: The Perioperative Nurse s Role In The Development Of A New Operating Suite Nurse Consultant & Healthcare Planners, Australia. 0930 Infection Control In The OR: Developing An Infection Control Risk Assessment Tool Ms Helen Musgrove, Infection Control Consultant, Australia 0950 A Glimpse Over The Horizon - Advanced Perioperative Practice In The 21 st Century: Nurse Consultant & Healthcare Planners, Australia 4 of 5
1020 Q & A 1035 Morning Tea Reception 1105 New Equipment, Old Technique, Stapedotomy Dr Gerald Chee, Consultant, Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, NUH 1125 Infection Control in The OR: Developing a Sterilizing Services Infection Control Risk Management Programme Ms Helen Musgrove, Infection Control Consultant, Australia 1155 Who will take care of you? Recruitment And Retention Dilemma Nurse Consultant & Healthcare Planners, Australia 1225 Q & A 1240 Closing Address Ms Tan Seo Peng, Chairperson, Organising Committee Nurse Clinician, Dept of Nursing, NUH 1245 Lunch About the National healthcare Group: The National Healthcare Group (NHG) manages: Four hospitals -Alexandra Hospital, National University Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the Institute of Mental Health/Woodbridge Hospital; Two National Centres - National Neuroscience Institute and National Skin Centre; The NHGP chain of nine polyclinics - Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok. Choa Chu Kang, Clementi, Hougang, Jurong, Toa Payoh, Woodlands, Yishun; Three specialty institutes - The Cancer Institute, The Eye Institute and The Heart Institute; and Four Business Divisions - NHG College, NHG Diagnostics, NHG Pharmacy and NetCare Internet Service. Our vision is "Adding years of healthy life to the people of Singapore. 5 of 5