Operating Theatre Nurse

Position Title: Operating Theatre Nurse
Department: Operating Theatre
Reports To: Theatre Nurse Manager / Nurse Unit Manager

Position Purpose

To provide safe and efficient perioperative nursing care to patients undergoing surgical and procedural interventions, supporting the surgical and anaesthesia teams before, during and after procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare patients for surgery and confirm patient identity, procedure and surgical site.
• Complete pre-operative nursing assessments and relevant documentation.
• Ensure informed consent and required documentation are completed and available.
• Prepare the operating theatre, equipment, instruments and supplies.
• Act as circulating or scrub nurse according to competency and roster requirements.
• Maintain strict aseptic technique throughout procedures.
• Perform surgical counts of instruments, swabs, needles and other items.
• Assist surgeons and anaesthesia staff during procedures.
• Monitor patient safety throughout the perioperative period.
• Prepare and handle surgical instruments and equipment appropriately.
• Maintain accurate theatre records and operative documentation.
• Ensure specimens are correctly labelled, documented and transferred.
• Assist with patient positioning and prevention of pressure injuries.
• Maintain infection prevention and sterilisation standards.
• Ensure theatre equipment is cleaned, checked and appropriately stored after procedures.
• Participate in emergency surgical procedures when required.
• Provide appropriate handover to recovery or ward staff.
• Participate in theatre audits and quality improvement activities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Registered Nurse with current professional registration/licence.
• Nursing qualification.
• Operating theatre/perioperative experience preferred.
• Current Basic Life Support certification.

Key Competencies

• Aseptic technique.
• Surgical safety procedures.
• Scrub and circulating nursing.
• Patient safety.
• Instrument and equipment management.
• Attention to detail.
• Emergency response.
• Teamwork and communication.

KPIs

• Timely and effective patient handover.
• Compliance with surgical safety checklist.
• Accurate instrument/swab/needle counts.
• Infection prevention compliance.
• Accurate theatre documentation.
• Equipment readiness.
• Compliance with patient identification and surgical-site verification.