Staff Nurse – Operating Theater

Job Overview

Provides direct and indirect age‑specific care for assigned patients in the Operating Room per scheduled shifts. The role encompasses nursing assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, evaluation, and care coordination for patients across the healthcare continuum involving families. The nurse must abide by Joint Commission International (JCI) requirements, including International Patient Safety Goals and national and international standards.

• Perform patient assessment using problem‑focused and age‑specific assessment techniques.
• Conduct continual critical care assessment of patients’ physical and psychological needs.
• Involve patients, significant others, and health‑care providers in the plan of care when appropriate.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide patient care.
• Co‑ordinate and prioritise the critical‑care clinical pathway based on individual needs.
• Revise the care plan as necessary and initiate appropriate transfer plans.
• Recognise subtle cues to anticipate potential problems.
• Document all relevant data in the medical record according to hospital departmental standards.
• Ensure availability and maintenance of supplies and equipment needed for unit and patient care.
• Perform clerical duties when needed.
• Assume responsibility for Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) required mandatory education (e.g., fire safety, infection control).
• Participate in staff meetings, unit committees, and projects.
• Participate in developing and achieving unit goals.
• Maintain a safe environment for patients and staff.
• Perform safe handling and administration of narcotic controlled and semi‑controlled drugs and document as directed by policies and procedures.
• Ensure completion of unit competencies (pain management, emergency department devices).
• Maintain clinical and professional competency based on the latest research and established standards of practice.
• Complete yearly critical care nursing competencies.
• Participate in unit‑based Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, data collection, incident reporting, medication error reporting, and related measures.
• Participate in ongoing educational activities.
• Perform additional duties when required.
• Operate arthroscopic tower systems and perform chest‑tube placement, monitoring, and removal.
• Set up chest‑tube drainage systems and ensure appropriate care of drainage apparatus.
• Carry out electrosurgical procedures in the Operating Room, including cleaning the environment, fire prevention, and electrosurgical safety.
• Perform frozen‑section specimen handling and maintain hand‑hygiene protocols.
• Prevent hypothermia in the operating room and conduct instrument, sponge, and sharp counts.
• Provide care for malignant hyperthermia patients and ensure safety during minimal invasive surgery.
• Maintain a sterile field and adhere to surgical attire guidelines.
• Perform defibrillation for cardioversion and transcutaneous pacing when indicated.
• Classify wounds in the operating room and facilitate team communication.
• Use pneumatic tourniquets, manage positioning, and prevent retained instruments, sharps, and sponges.
• Administer oxygen via nasal prongs for newborns and manage obstructions of airway in children and infants.
• Provide tracheostomy care for pediatric patients, including suction, changing ties, and tube exchanges.

• Bachelor's degree in nursing (minimum 3years full‑time course duration) or a degree in nursing (minimum 2years course duration) with registration as a Registered Nurse from Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, or Australia.
• Must hold a valid license/registration to practice in the nurse’s home country and/or country of last employment (where applicable).
• Must hold a minimum of a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or other scope‑of‑practice certification.
• Minimum of 2years of recent postgraduate experience in the Operating Room.
• Knowledge of and ability to render care and services based on age, appropriateness, and developmental needs of patients.
• Proficiency in assessment of patient and family’s physical and psychological needs.
• Skills in coordination, planning, and prioritisation of care based on individual needs.

Minimum of two (2) years of recent post‑graduate experience in the Operating Room. Knowledge of and ability to render care and services based on age, appropriateness and developmental needs of patients. Skills in assessment of patient and families physical and psychological needs. Skills in coordination and planning of care and prioritising care based on individual needs.