Job Description
An exciting opportunity has arisen for registered nurses and operating department professionals (ODPs) with a minimum of 12 months' theatre scrub experience to work in robotic surgery. The role offers the opportunity to work in a range of specialities including Urology, Colorectal Surgery, Upper GI, Gynaecology, ENT and Orthopaedics.
As a rotational practitioner, following successful completion of your probationary period, you will undertake a six-month multi-professional Preceptorship programme in robotic surgery. This will be supported by our lead practitioners and by experienced clinical practice facilitators. In addition, you will also be supported in your training and development by our world-class surgical team at UCLH.
We will provide guidance, support and feedback throughout your transition period, while you develop the necessary knowledge and skills to become a confident and competent practitioner. Prior experience in robotic surgery is not essential.
Our long-term goal is to develop a multi-skilled workforce. In addition to developing your scrub skills, you will also have the opportunity to gain a qualification through our anaesthesia and recovery nursing training programme, developed in collaboration with University College London Perioperative Medicine Faculty.
As a Theatre Practitioner, you will be responsible for helping and offering support to patients undergoing surgery. You will support the team to prepare a wide range of specialist equipment and other medical devices required during surgery.
The post holder will have the opportunity to deputise for the Senior Theatre Practitioner, ensuring that the operating list runs smoothly. With support and supervision, you will devise, implement and assess individualised care plans for a diverse patient group, promoting evidence-based good practice.
You will be able to support junior colleagues, ensuring that all staff are able to provide the highest standard of care.
You will:
- have at least 12 months of experience as a Scrub Practitioner in orthopaedics, urology, ENT or general surgery
- be organised, with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- be an Operating Department Practitioner registered with the Health
Professions Council (HCPC), or an NMC-Registered Nurse
- have a thorough understanding of patient care needs in the perioperative environment
UCLH is a major Teaching Hospital and Research Centre, with state-of-the-art facilities across our sites. In a recent survey of UCLH staff, 74% of respondents said they would recommend ULCH as a place to work, the top score among acute trusts in London. 86% of staff said they would be happy for a friend or relative to be treated here.
Our busy and dynamic operating theatres set the benchmark for clinical excellence. We have a total of 34 operating rooms across our sites. We also provide anaesthesia support in areas such as endoscopy, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, brachytherapy and interventional radiology. Our new operating theatre complex in Grafton Way Building is now open, providing elective orthopaedic and ENT and oral surgeries, alongside our new Proton Beam Therapy centre.
In recent years specialist interests in Robotic surgery have been developed in the areas of upper GI surgery, colorectal surgery, gynae-oncology, urology and orthopaedic surgery. We now have a total of three Da Vinci and two MAKO robots in our operating theatres.
UCLH is committed to the ongoing professional development of our staff. Opportunities exist to undertake a wide range of in-house and university-based training programmes and to develop your career in the areas of theatre scrub, recovery and anaesthetics
To work according to the Nursing & Midwifery Council Code of Professional Conduct and relevant professional guidelines as a named nurse (or key worker) for a defined group of patients and take responsibility for: Protecting and supporting the health of individual patients and clients
- To deliver care to patients during the perioperative period. Including
intraoperative (scrub & circulating) and post-operative recovery.
- To provide support to the Senior Theatre Practitioners in managing specific specialist theatres or speciality and to support the development plan of staff and learners whilst ensuring the delivery of safe and high-quality care
- Development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care including discharge planning for each patient
- To promote and maintain effective communication.
- Protecting and supporting the health of individual patients and clients acting as their advocate when necessary within the multi-disciplinary team.
- To take charge of the operating theatre in the absence of Senior Theatre Practitioner following performance review against the agreed KSF outline and progression through the first gateway
- To promote and participate in the implementation of the UCLH Nursing & Midwifery strategy and work towards achieving the Trust “Top 10”
- Reviewing nursing practice and implementing appropriate changes based on research/best practice.
- Support the development and implementation of Audit, Quality and Risk
Management initiatives.
The successful candidate from the interview will go through the assessment process. Details of this will be provided by the Nursing Recruitment Team.