Surgical Assistants
A surgical assistant is a health professional who supports the primary surgeon during an operation, acting as a skilled "second pair of hands" to ensure safety and efficiency. Surgical assistants can be other surgeons, general practitioners or specialised nurses, and are selected by the primary surgeon. Their responsibilities include preparing the operating room, assisting with surgical tasks during your procedure and collaborating with the rest of the surgical team.
Role and responsibilities
- Direct assistance: Provide continuous and competent support under the direct supervision of the lead surgeon.
- Surgical tasks: Help with various aspects of your operation.
- Team collaboration: Work as a cohesive part of the surgical team, which includes the primary surgeon, anaesthetist, and scrub nurses, to achieve best outcomes.
- Preparation: Assist with the setup and organisation of the operating room before and between procedures.
How Surgical Assistants are selected
- Surgeon's discretion: The primary surgeon selects their own surgical assistant, often based on clinical skill, experience, and a good working relationship.
- Trust and expertise: The surgeon assesses the assistant's ability to provide competent and dedicated assistance during the procedure.
- Collaboration: The choice is part of building a strong team dynamic, where the surgeon trusts the assistant's expertise and reliability.
Nursing Surgical Assistants
At the Brisbane Hip Clinic both A/Prof Patrick Weinrauch and Dr Michael Ottley routinely use experienced theatre nurses as their assistants in surgery. These relationships have developed over decades of collaborative teamwork in both the theatre and outpatient clinical environments.
Surgical Assistants working with Brisbane Hip Clinic
Carmen Healing (CN)
BNur, GDipLeadershipMGMT, MClinPrac (PNSA)
Education
Bachelor of Nursing - University of Southern Queensland (2000)
Grad Diploma of Leadership and MGMT - Griffith University Business School (2012)
Grad Diploma of Clinical Practice (PNSA) - Southern Cross University (2015)
Experience
Carmen works as a Perioperative Nurse Surgical Assistant (PNSA) and Clinic Nurse with Dr Patrick Weinrauch at the Brisbane Hip Clinic. She has 20 years of specialist Orthopaedic perioperative nursing experience, working at St Andrews War Memorial Hospital as a Clinical Nurse since 2001, with a specialised focus on hip joint and lower limb surgery.
Sharon Kermeci (NP)
BNur, MClinPrac (PNSA), MNur (NP)
Education
Bachelor of Nursing - University of Southern Queensland (2007)
Master of Clinical Practice (PNSA) - Southern Cross University (2015)
Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) - University of Newcastle (2019)
Experience
In 2007, Sharon commenced graduate training in the operating theatres at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital working within a variety of surgical disciplines, specialising in the areas of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery.
Sharon stared working with A/Prof Weinrauch in 2008, initially as his scrub/scout nurse and after further university studies, as a Perioperative Nurse - Surgical Assistant. As interests in the management of orthopaedic conditions grew, Sharon once again pursued further tertiary education and expanded her clinical nursing role to incorporate all aspects of patient care as a Nurse Practitioner.
Kate Whalley (RN)
BNur, GradCertPeriOpNurs
Education
Bachelor of Nursing - Queensland University of Technology (1995)
Graduate Certificate in Perioperative Nursing - Australian College of Nursing (2013)
Experience
Kate Whalley commenced her nursing career in 1996, and quickly found her love of Orthopaedics. Since this time, Kate has worked in various roles, all within the area of Orthopaedics. From setting up and running the Orthopaedic pre-admission clinic at the Prince Charles Hospital, to working for Orthopaedic device companies, as a clinical support worker. This has allowed Kate to gain significant theatre experience and knowledge around hip surgery.
After undertaking some further study, Kate has been assisting Dr Michael Ottley since 2014.
