Operating theatres
Prioritising wellbeing in operating theatres
The foundation of efficient and safe working in operating theatres is effective team working. Dora Bilan highlights the need to support each other to achieve success – focusing on staff wellbeing and mental health.
How full is your bucket, meaning are you healthy? Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? Did you have enough sleep? Should we ask these questions at the pre-brief in the operating theatre? As healthcare professionals, we must prioritise our mental wellbeing and acknowledge it is an essential aspect of our overall health. Starting the discussion of this topic more openly and supporting each other can lead towards better mental health. Becoming a healthcare professional requires focus on patient care and ensuring the safety of the working environment. Reaching these targets is a priority and sometimes wellbeing and mental health are not supported for the individuals delivering patient care. This article will explore the impact of operating theatre culture on the mental health and wellbeing of its members, and how this can affect the efficiency and effectiveness of the operating theatre. Working as a nurse or medical professional, within a multicultural healthcare environment in different clinical areas, as well as the operating theatre, requires flexibility and self-awareness to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings that can lead to burnout. The term burnout
was introduced over 40 years ago and is characterised as lack of motivation and reduced commitment. Bibi et al speak about the impact of stress and lack of self-care on the concept of burnout among healthcare workers.1 The Nursing and Midwifery, Professional Code (2018 b) touches on the subject of safe care in practice – not only care for a patient but also for all team members.2
The nursing profession
requires individuals with strong character, personality, and the ability to learn quickly. However, even the strongest, most experienced people have their limits when overworked, tired, stressed or depressed. Given that not everyone is comfortable discussing emotions, we should consider how to improve our workday, extend pre-brief before the working day, and ask simple questions, such as: ‘how full is your bucket?’ Rath & Clifton, in their book by this title, expanded on people’s interaction and how this can provide negative and positive outcomes for daily life.3
There
is an opportunity to transform your working team into a positive force that changes lives. Applying this strategy can make a real impact on staff and patients alike. Rath and Clifton
also suggest that management can improve by turning negativity into positivity to achieve goals.3
To foster a positive and productive team dynamic, we must prioritise spending time together to know individuals’ strengths and weaknesses. By investing 10 hours daily, most of the team members feel close as a family. Building a strong supportive system, supporting one another, can enhance productivity and performance and therefore contribute to overall success.4
In the context of operating theatres,
teamwork is crucial for ensuring efficient and effective patient care. However, there is a lack of consistency in the skills of working teams, which can lead to suboptimal outcomes. To address this issue, it is important to recognise the potential benefits of positive team-building aspects. This can include fostering open communication, encouraging mutual respect, defining clear roles and responsibilities, and providing training and support to team members. By investing in these areas, operating theatre teams can improve their collaboration, enhance their performance, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for their patients. Muller et al’’s study highlights perioperative nurses’ satisfaction and task- related communication with surgeons and team members but also speaks of successful teamwork that can link social-emotional aspects.5 Working in an operating theatre can be an
emotionally demanding job, and it’s important to recognise that everyone needs support and understanding. Some people may mistakenly view emotions as a weakness, but it’s important to remember that being in touch with one’s feelings can be a strength. By acknowledging and addressing the emotional aspects of the job, operating theatre team members can create a healthier and more supportive work environment for everyone involved. So, would starting with a positive pre-brief contribute to a positive experience?
July 2024 I
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