Theatre Scrub Nurse - Margate (South East) in Kent

We are growing our Theatre teams! Are you an experienced and motivated Theatre Scrub Nurse ready to take the next step in your career? We are seeking a dynamic and dedicated Theatre Scrub Nurse to provide specialist care within our busy operating theatres. The post holder will perform and assist in all aspects of surgical procedures to an expert level in line with personal competencies. The post holder will work with the surgical team in delivering and maintaining a high standard of surgical care before, during and after surgery. We undertake a multiplicity of surgical procedures which include - but are not limited to - general surgery, orthopaedic, gynaecology, urology, ENT and colorectal patients. The Theatre Scrub Nurse is clinically responsible to the Theatre Sister working under direction and supervision as a member of the surgical team.

Main duties of the job

• To aid in the delivery of direct and indirect patient care throughout the operating department.
• Working within policies and procedures, implement and evaluate pathways of care for the patient within the perioperative setting.
• Under the direction of the senior staff, liaise with medical, nursing, ancillary staff and other departments to ensure the timely delivery of patient care.
• The post holder will perform and assist in all aspects of surgical procedures to a level in line with personal competencies.
• They will be a point of knowledge for junior team members and act as a mentor to health professionals who wish to gain competencies within the field of surgery.
• The post holder will work with the theatre teams in delivering and maintaining a high standard of surgical care before, during and after surgery.

Spencer Private Hospitals undertake a multiplicity of surgical procedures which include but are not limited to general surgery, orthopaedics, gynaecology, urology, ENT and colorectal patients.

Job responsibilities

• To contribute to the maintenance of patient care standards and to assist with the implementation of changes to care delivery systems, methods and practice in order to bring about improvements in the quality of care.
• To contribute to the development and implementation of personal professional standards which reflect customer requirements and best practice.
• Carry out planned care for a group of patients as part of the surgical team providing individualised patient care working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records in line with professional standards.
• Have responsibility for the administration and custody of medicines in line with SPH policy and professional standards.
• Adhere to professional standards, highlighting to the line manager when standards are not seen to be met.
• Undertake practice assessments competently.
• Maintain accurate clinical observations of the patient and act accordingly on findings.
• Act as the patient advocate.
• Be clinically competent in all areas of clinical practice relevant to the post and banding.
• Ensure own professional knowledge is continuously updated.
• Work with the teams to attain and maintain a CQC rating of Good or Outstanding.

You will play an important role in ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care and maintaining professional standards within the theatre setting. This is an exciting opportunity for a compassionate, forward-thinking clinician who is ready to be part of a skilled team, with a family atmosphere.

Personal/Professional Development

• To take every reasonable opportunity to maintain and improve your professional knowledge and competence.
• To participate in personal objective setting and review, including the creation of a personal development plan and the Trusts appraisal process.
• Monitoring and maintaining stock levels.
• Report any deficiency to the Theatre Manager as appropriate.

Business Development

• To assist in the implementation of new ideas and procedures.
• To implement research-based nursing care, adhering to Spencer Private Hospitals Policies and Procedures.

Quality

• Assess patient care needs by planning, implementing and evaluating programmes of care within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Complete the Perioperative Care Plan.
• Adhere to pharmaceutical codes of practice to include preparation, custody, ordering and documentation relating to controlled and prescribed drugs, as professionally qualified to do so.
• To adhere to professional codes of practice and to maintain active status on the relevant professional register.
• Carry out daily preparation and maintenance of relevant medical equipment e.g. anaesthetic, life support, surgical items and complete the appropriate documentation.
• Identify and report faults to senior staff.
• Participate, provide support and resuscitation skills as a member of the resuscitation team.
• Organise and deliver patient care and equipment during inter-department and inter-hospital patient transfers.
• To liaise with colleagues, medical staff and other agencies to ensure the timely delivery of prescribed patient care.
• Provide emergency theatre cover during major incidents when either on duty or called in from home.
• Facilitate the delivery of surgical procedures, including positioning of patients for surgery.
• Ensure the correct labelling and recording of specimens.
• Act as the circulating person in the support of the surgical team.
• Perform patient and environmental safety checks.
• Act as the scrub person in the surgical team with responsibility for providing the required range of sterile instruments and implants.
• Conduct safety checks of swabs/needles/instruments, in accordance with clinical guidelines.
• Complete the appropriate documentation.
• Participates in the delivery of the Governance agenda.
• Reports actual and near miss incidents promptly and appropriately.
• Takes effective action to minimize risk.
• To monitor patient condition for any adverse reactions and act upon appropriately under the supervision of senior members of the surgical team.
• Take all necessary precautions to protect self and others from contamination from body fluids, infectious materials and toxic substances encountered during daily practice and a working knowledge of infection control.
• To recognise and report abnormal clinical situations and report them to the Theatre Manager.
• To keep his or her knowledge updated about the procedures to be adopted in the event of fire, untoward incidents, major incidents, accidents and faulty equipment.
• To actively demonstrate an up to date knowledge of current clinical practice.

Person Specification

• Qualifications: Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner NMC/HCPC Registered.
• Experience: Ability to assess, plan and evaluate patient care.
• Knowledge of research and evidence-based practice.
• Knowledge of CQC Orthopaedic, general, gynae, urology, ENT surgeries or a desire to upskill to attain these.
• Minimally invasive procedures.
• Laser applications.
• Multiskilling - demonstrate competency in recovery.
• Skills: Good working knowledge of Word/Excel/Outlook.
• Effective oral and written skills.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Dealing with emergency situations within operating theatre department.

Other

• Manual handling of patients and manoeuvring heavy instrumentation and equipment.
• Frequent unpleasant working conditions; contact with body fluids, foul linen daily.
• Daily contact with substances hazardous to health.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£16.33 to £19.87 an hour dependent upon qualifications and experience.