In celebration of International Nurses Day in the month of May, Braemar Hospital proudly shares the story of Emma Missen, whose professional growth exemplifies our commitment to nursing excellence and patient care.
When Emma Missen joined Braemar Hospital five and a half years ago, she brought with her a passion for theatre nursing and a desire to continually expand her capabilities.
Today, she stands at the threshold of a significant career advancement as she trains to become a Registered Nurse First Surgical Assistant (RNFSA) – a journey made possible through Braemar Hospital’s investment in staff development and excellence in patient care.
The Path to Advanced Practice
“Nursing is a very busy and challenging environment. But you have just got to love what you do, find the practice areas of what you enjoy working in,” says Emma, who has been a nurse for nearly eight years since completing her training at Wintec.
With a strong background in orthopaedics and spinal procedures, and experience in urology and cardiothoracic surgeries, Emma was perfectly positioned to take the next step in her career when the opportunity for RNFSA training presented itself.
“The opportunity arose late last year,” Emma recalls. “The surgeons said they would assist and support. I applied on Christmas Eve and started my RNFSA training at university six weeks later.”
This enthusiasm for professional growth aligns perfectly with Braemar Hospital’s commitment to developing its nursing staff. As part of its strategic investment in staff excellence, Braemar aims to fund the training costs for one registered nurse each year to become an RNFSA.
Braemar’s Investment in Excellence
General Manager Clinical Services Pru Sheahan explains the significance of this investment: “This recognised, and very high level of registered nursing in our theatres means we can provide even better services for the surgeons credentialed to work with us, and it gives them consistency at the operating table.”
For Braemar Hospital, which works with more than 200 specialists including surgeons and anaesthetists, having staff trained at this advanced level represents a commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in patient care.
“We are all about making lives better at Braemar,” says Pru, “and we believe it’s important that our staff – who are there to look after our patients – are well-supported, well-paid and have plenty of opportunities for role fulfillment.”
The RNFSA Role: A Vital Extension of Practice
As Emma explains, the First Surgical Assistant role significantly extends her nursing practice in the operating theatre.
“What is a Registered Nurse First Surgical assistant? It’s an advanced role in theatre which greatly expands our skillset and enables us to work to our fullest potential, within our nursing scope of practice.” Emma says. “We directly assist surgeons during an operation – developing more knowledge to help in these roles, doing extra things such as patient positioning, suturing, injection of local anaesthetic, and controlling bleeding.”
The role extends beyond the operating room as well. “Support pre and post-operative, and with patient assessments. It also extends to leadership in theatre, to support nursing staff, improve the efficiency in theatre, supporting staff growth and learning – clinical leadership, and supporting Clinical Nurse leads.”
A Community of Support
Critical to Emma’s journey has been the support from Braemar’s surgeons and existing RNFSAs. “Emma says the support given to her by the surgeons at Braemar Hospital and other RNFSAs has been greatly appreciated,” she notes. “Support looks like the knowledge base to talk through things, talking through afterwards what has occurred in theatre, then to see the outcomes in post-op patients, on-the-job learning, and have mentorship.”
This collaborative educational environment helps Emma balance her studies with her full-time nursing duties. She is currently pursuing her post-graduate certificate part-time at Auckland University, completing both required papers over one year while continuing to work full-time at Braemar.
“It helps me to keep up with the theory, talking through scans, with the potential to understand and learn more elements in surgeries,” Emma explains.
“This practical element of learning on the job with surgeon mentors and senior nurses has been invaluable.”
The Rewards of Advanced Practice
For Emma, one of the most rewarding aspects of her advanced training has been the opportunity to develop more comprehensive relationships with patients.
“The most special thing is seeing patients pre- and post-surgery and seeing the story behind the patient. To actually see the patient get better after their surgical intervention is great,” she shares. “With theatre nursing sometimes, you only see the patient for five or 10 minutes then they are asleep. This training has meant I get to know a bit more about them and their health journey.”
This more holistic view of patient care has deepened Emma’s appreciation for the impact of her work. “Some of the patients have been living with a lot of pain, and it really is lifechanging to see surgery relieve that pain which has been bothering them for such a long time.”
A Valuable Partnership
The RNFSA role creates a unique partnership between nurse and surgeon that benefits everyone involved—especially the patient.
“For the surgeon the RNFSA is someone they can trust, knows their preferences really well and anticipates what they need,” explains Emma.
This relationship illustrates why Braemar Hospital values this investment. By providing the opportunity for nurses like Emma to advance their practice, the hospital creates a more efficient operating environment, better continuity of care, and ultimately improved patient outcomes.
Looking to the Future
As Emma continues her journey toward becoming an RNFSA, she represents Braemar Hospital’s vision for nursing excellence. The registration training involves ongoing hours and competencies for this advanced level of practice.
“There is continuous upskilling and learning, with plenty of opportunities to learn advanced practice skills depending on your RNFSA specialty, says Emma. These include wound opening, bone graft harvesting for orthopaedic and spine procedures, open/endoscopic vein harvesting for open heart surgery and stoma formations following bowel surgery.
In a month where we have celebrated International Nurses Day, Emma’s story reminds us of the dedication and commitment that nurses bring to healthcare every day. Through Braemar Hospital’s investment in staff development, nurses like Emma can continue to grow, excel, and make an even greater difference in patients’ lives.
Braemar Hospital is proud to celebrate International Nurses Day by honoring the dedication, skill, and compassion of all our nursing staff, and by continuing to invest in their professional development and growth.
Braemar Hospital is widely recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading private surgical hospitals and the only private hospital in Aotearoa New Zealand that is a Living Wage Employer. The hospital is 100% owned by Braemar Charitable Trust which works to improve healthcare outcomes by supporting medical research, building health sector capability and delivering a community surgery programme.