Twenty nursing anaesthetists from hospitals across Guyana are receiving simulation training at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to strengthen their response to emergencies in the operating room.
The four-day programme, being conducted with the Middle Tennessee School of Anaesthesia (MTSA), runs from October 27 to 30. Participants are divided into two groups, each attending two days of sessions.
According to a GPHC release, the training covers crisis resource management, effective communication, operating room emergencies and complications associated with spinal anaesthesia.
The programme uses high-fidelity simulation, which recreates clinical situations in a controlled setting, allowing participants to practise emergency responses without putting patients at risk.
GPHC said it acquired a SimMan simulator last year to support this type of training, including clinical decision-making and teamwork.
Two master’s students participating in the programme will receive additional mentorship and are expected to help teach other nursing anaesthetists, supporting the development of local trainers.
Nursing anaesthetists are specially trained nurses who provide anaesthesia-related care before, during and after surgery and other procedures.
GPHC said its partnership with MTSA spans more than a decade. Initial visits focused on educational modules before progressing to practical exercises involving operating room preparation and intubation. The current programme introduces more realistic emergency simulations.
According to the hospital, MTSA also developed a bachelor’s degree curriculum that was shared with the University of Guyana, followed more recently by a master’s programme.
The educational initiatives are intended to strengthen anaesthesia care, particularly in hinterland hospitals, where nursing anaesthetists may work more independently alongside surgeons and other healthcare personnel.
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