Nursing

Peri-operative Nursing Surgical Assistants (PNSA) are theatre specialised nursing staff who have undertaken higher training to assist surgeons in operative procedures and to deliver enhanced nursing care around the time of your operation. PNSA assistants provide a valuable and broad skill set to supplement the care that we provide to our patients.

At Westside Orthopaedics our PNSA is Linda Cebisch-Nitz. Linda’s roles typically include assisting Dr Shilliington during operative procedures, immediate peri-operative care at St Andrew's Hospital and assisting with ongoing care and advice after hospital discharge. PNSA Assistants also conduct research, quality assurance activities and care plan development.

More information about PNSA practitioners can be obtained on the Australian Association of Nurse Surgical Assistants website.

PNSA practitioners provide care services equivalent to, and frequently beyond, those provided by a Medical Assistants working within the same role. Despite this, the Federal Government provides no Medicare rebates to patients for services provided by PNSA practitioners. It is however the policy of the Westside Orthopaedics that for all surgical procedures, the out of pocket expense for PNSA services will not exceed that of an equivalent Medical Assistant. Many of the services conducted by PNSA practitioners are provided by Westside Orthopaedics free of charge.

If you require assistance from one of our Nursing Staff, please contact us as below:

Phone: (Main Reception)

Email: [javascript protected email address]

Linda Cebisch-Nitz

At Westside Orthopaedics you will likely meet our NP/PNSA Linda Cebisch-Nitz. Linda has a Masters in Perioperative Nurse Surgical Assisting and a separate Masters as a Nurse Practitioner. Linda’s role typically includes providing education and pre-operative care leading into surgery, assisting Dr Shillington during operative procedures, immediate peri-operative care at St Andrew's Hospital and assisting with ongoing care and advice after hospital discharge.

Peri-operative Nursing Surgical Assistants (PNSA) are specialised theatre nursing staff who have undertaken higher training to assist surgeons in operative procedures and deliver enhanced nursing care around the time of your operation. PNSA assistants provide a valuable and broad skill set to supplement the care that we provide to our patients. PNSA’s also conduct research, quality assurance activities and care plan development.

Nurse Practitoners are also advanced practice nurses who has been endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). Nurse Practitioners work across many specialities similarly to doctors. They help manage patients care and can prescribe medications, order pathology and much more.

For a full list of the NP scope of practice you can follow the Nurse Practitioner's Scope of Practice in Australia - Transforming Healthcare

For more information about PNSA practitioners can be obtained on the Australian Association of Nurse Surgical Assistants website.

NP/ PNSA’S provide care services equivalent to, and frequently beyond, those provided by a Medical Assistant working within the same role. Despite this, the Federal Government provides no Medicare rebates to patients for services provided by NP/ PNSA practitioners. It is however the policy of Westside Orthopaedics that for all surgical procedures, the out of pocket expense for PNSA services will not exceed that of an equivalent Medical Assistant. Many of the services conducted by our Nurse Practitioner Perioperative Nurse Surgical Assistant are provided by Westside Orthopaedics free of charge.

If you require assistance from one of our Nursing Staff, please contact us.