Nathan Cottey

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing

Specialisms

Theatre Scrub Nurse. Includes Urology, Gynaecology, Colorectal & Robotic Assisted Surgery.

Introduction

I began my career in 2016 at a large city hospital working in the urology theatre. I have acquired a wide variety of scrub skills and general theatre knowledge. Gaining knowledge and skills in an array of open cases such as radical nephrectomy, radical prostatectomy, radical cystectomy + neobladder formation or ileal conduit formation, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, nephrectomy with level 2 inferior vena cava clearance and partial nephrectomy, vasectomy, orchidectomy, Circumcision. Furthermore, laparoscopic experience includes nephrectomy, nephroureterectomy, prostatectomy, pyeloplasty and varicocele. Also, I have gained experience in a variety of benign incontinence surgeries such as artificial sphincter insertion, male and female sling insertion, Autologous sling insertion, Martius fat pad graft and augmentation cystoplasty. Finally, I have attained various endourology skills from transurethral resection of the bladder and prostate, ureteroscopy and laser stone fragmentation, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, bladder neck injections, botox injections and mitrofonoscopy. I completed a level 7 mentorship in practice course at Birmingham City University, developing a teaching tool available online to aid newly qualified staff and students in understanding the steps of open radical prostatectomy whilst watching within the theatre environment.

I continued my career at a city hospital in Wales, where I spent three months in the emergency theatres obtaining skills in various cases that enter through the emergency pathway. Moving from the emergency theatres to colorectal, gynaecology and urology I have deepened my knowledge of urology whilst gaining a deeper insight into colorectal and gynaecological surgery. Furthermore, I have undertaken a theatre clinical educator role for urology, gynaecology and colorectal speciality. The role has involved developing learning materials within the specialities, such as presentations on procedures and the disease processes underpinning surgeries carried out, with a focus on single cancer pathways and NHS Wales national optimal pathways and delivering presentations in weekly sessions to students and available staff. Furthermore, I am the key link person for all new starters within the specialities to assist with their learning needs and development and  I ensure staff mandatory training is up to date including providing training sessions or assessments to ensure these are achieved to local policy. I have developed links with external training providers, such as medical company representatives, to provide up-to-date practices with commonly used medical devices within theatres. I also work towards updating local policies within the speciality in line with current best evidence-based practices. Finally, I have assisted with the teaching and delivery of the new robotic-assisted surgical service developed at this city hospital in Wales.

I accept instructions from both claimant and defendant solicitors and insurers. I have undergone formal training in the medico-legal process and am fully aware of my responsibilities under Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to expert witnesses.