Some of the different jobs available in theatre nursing
Some of the different jobs available in theatre nursing
Theatre nursing jobs are available in both the public and private sector, and will often involve similar working routines and responsibilities. Pay scales will vary between sectors, but in general the private sector will base their pay on the agenda for change NHS pay bands.
A Theatre Nurse is a qualified nurse, usually from adult branch so they are a qualified RGN with specific expertise in a theatre nursing environment. They are NMC registered (in the UK) and must maintain this registration in order to continue practising as a theatre nurse.
There are several different roles within theatre nursing and we're going to look at just a few.
Scrub Nurse
A Scrub Nurse will be present in theatre during the procedure and will pass the surgeon any equipment they require as they ask for it. An experienced theatre nurse will be able to pre-empt a request for an instrument and will have it ready to pass to the surgeon. It is essential that a scrub nurse has the highest understanding of infection control and equipment management. They will be responsible for sterilising all equipment prior to surgery, for counting all instruments and swabs after the procedure and for ensuring the theatre is cleaned afterwards.
Anaesthetic Nurse
An Anaesthetic Nurse will work with an Anaesthetist prior to and during the surgery to assess the patient's needs and ensure the correct level of anaesthesia is delivered. They are responsible for ensuring a patient's vital signs remain steady and if it's a local anaesthetic, that communication is maintained with the patient throughout to ensure they are comfortable.
Recovery Nurse
A Recovery Nurse will take over responsibility for monitoring the patient's vital signs as soon as they are released from theatre. A patient is most vulnerable immediately after surgery so observations will be carried out every 15 minutes at least. A recovery nurse must be able to react quickly if a patient shows negative signs and their condition deteriorates. They must be able to intubate a patient if they are suffering respiratory difficulty or call for assistance if a resuss team is required.
Above a Theatre Nurse is a highly qualified healthcare professional, and anyone hoping to get a theatre nursing job must expect the competition to be very tough and be prepared to apply to several different places before being offered a position.