Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons

Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons has been developed from an ongoing long-term research project carried out by a multi-disciplinary team of surgeons, anaesthetists, psychologists and theatre nurses – all with extensive experience in working in teams through healthcare, industry and other high-risk professions.  
This work has been supported by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the University of Aberdeen and NHS Education Scotland (NES). By addressing non-technical skills, the aim is that the technical aspects of surgery will be made easier for all, by all.

On this page

    Course learning outcomes

    By completing this course, you will be able to:

    1. Recognise the importance of non-technical skills in safe surgery 
    2. Use a common language to discuss non-technical skills 
    3. Describe ways to improve non-technical skills in each of the four categories of the NOTSS Taxonomy 
    4. Observe and discuss examples of good and poor non-technical behaviours in the operating theatre
    5. Give feedback to Trainees and other consultants on their non-technical behaviours
    6. Reflect on your own non-technical behaviours
    7. Rate behaviours using the NOTSS rating scale. 

     

    Are you eligible for this course?

    This course is and available to and appropriate for College members (Fellows and Specialist International Medical Graduates) and Trainees. 

     

    Delivery modes

    • Modes of delivery: 2x compulsory eLearning modules to be completed before attending a 1-day face-to-face course
    • Duration: eLearning modules (2 hours) plus face-to-face course (7 hours)
    Delivery dates

    Face-to-face Schedule 

    • Time: All courses run from 8:30am – 4:00pm local time 
    • Thursday 30 March 2023 – Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand 
    • Thursday 18 May 2023 – Brisbane, QLD Australia 
    • Thursday 27 July 2023 – Sydney, NSW Australia 
    • Thursday 2 November 2023 – Adelaide, SA Australia 


    Course fees

    • AU$520 or NZ$585 for members of the College (Fellows, Trainees or Specialist International Medical Graduates within the College)
    • AU$640 or NZ$720 for non-members of the College

    *All values include GST 

    Cancellation Policy

    CPD points

    Attending this event will entitle participants to 8 CPD points.

    Main RACS competencies addressed

    • Collaboration and teamwork  
    • Communication  
    • Judgement and clinical decision making 

    Course reference

    Course references are available from the RACS library (login required).

    Register here (Login required)