It’s a first for the Hanover and District Hospital.
Specialized nurses will now be able to assist with surgeries when family doctors are unavailable to do so.
It’s all part of the provinces new Surgical First Assistant Program.
Under the program — two Operating Room nurses will receive specialized training to become Surgical First Assistants.
One of the nurses has already completed her training and the other will begin her schooling in April.
Vice President of Patient Care Services Reta Sproule calls it a wonderful program for a small rural hospital.
She says it can be difficult to line up family doctors to assist with emergency surgeries.
Now Hanover’s surgeon will be able to rely on the Surgical First Assistants whenever needed.
Sproule adds it’s a great utilization of staff creating a very efficient system.
Hanover is one of handful of rural hospitals to participate in the Surgical First Assistant Program.