Staff Nurse – Theatre (Perioperative/Orthopaedic)

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Staff Nurse – Theatre (Perioperative/Orthopaedic) to join a dynamic perioperative team. The successful candidate will deliver high-quality, patient-centred nursing care throughout the surgical journey, including anaesthetic, scrub, circulating, and recovery phases.

Working within a multidisciplinary environment, you will play a key role in ensuring patient safety, maintaining clinical excellence, and supporting the efficient delivery of perioperative services.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Care

• Deliver safe, evidence-based nursing care across all perioperative stages, including anaesthetic, intraoperative, and post-anaesthetic recovery.

• Prepare and maintain operating theatres, ensuring compliance with infection prevention and sterile practice standards.

• Assist with anaesthetic procedures, including patient positioning, airway support, and monitoring throughout surgery.

• Perform scrub and circulating duties while maintaining aseptic technique and ensuring accurate instrument, swab, and sharps counts.

• Monitor and care for patients in the post-anaesthesia recovery area, assessing pain, airway, vital signs, and recovery progress.

• Administer medications and treatments in accordance with professional guidelines and organisational policies.

• Maintain accurate clinical documentation and patient records.

Patient Care

• Promote patient safety, dignity, privacy, and comfort throughout the perioperative experience.

• Provide reassurance, education, and emotional support to patients and their families before and after surgery.

• Ensure effective communication and continuity of care between all perioperative teams.

Teamwork & Communication

• Work collaboratively with surgeons, anaesthetists, nursing colleagues, and the wider multidisciplinary team.

• Participate in surgical safety briefings, checklists, and post-procedure debriefings.

• Support the induction, training, and ongoing development of new and junior team members.

Quality & Professional Practice

• Adhere to professional nursing standards, infection prevention protocols, and organisational policies.

• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, clinical audits, and patient safety programmes.

• Contribute to maintaining a safe environment through incident reporting, risk management, and compliance with best practice standards.

• Ensure the appropriate handling, maintenance, and care of surgical instruments and equipment.

Professional Development

• Maintain and enhance perioperative knowledge through continuing professional development.

• Attend mandatory training, educational programmes, and competency assessments.

• Support the learning and development of student nurses and newly appointed colleagues.

Health & Safety

• Promote a safe working environment for patients, visitors, and colleagues.

• Recognise and respond appropriately to perioperative emergencies and clinical deterioration.

• Report hazards, incidents, and equipment issues promptly.

Essential Requirements

Qualifications & Registration

• Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), or eligibility for registration.

• Minimum of three years' post-registration nursing experience, including at least one year in perioperative nursing or a related specialty.

• Demonstrated clinical competence and ability to manage responsibilities independently.

• Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

• Ability to maintain annual professional registration.

Experience

• Experience working within one or more perioperative disciplines, including scrub, anaesthetic, and/or recovery nursing.

• Exposure to both elective and emergency surgical procedures.

• Experience using electronic patient documentation or theatre management systems is desirable.

• Participation in quality improvement or patient safety initiatives is advantageous.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong clinical knowledge and perioperative nursing skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.

• Compassionate, patient-focused approach to care.

• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

• Strong organisational and time management skills in a fast-paced environment.

• Flexible, adaptable, and able to respond confidently to changing clinical priorities.

• Commitment to maintaining high standards of patient safety and professional practice.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary package.

• Sign-on bonus (where applicable).

• Full-time, permanent position.

• Ongoing professional development and education opportunities.

• Supportive and collaborative working environment.

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

• Career progression opportunities.

• Free on-site parking.