Overview
Our experienced theatres team specialise in both long term and ad hoc bookings within both the NHS and the private sector. We supply operating department practitioners, anaesthetics, recovery and scrub nurses for both Band 5 and band 6 vacancies. Theatre nurses work with patients of all ages and primarily within hospital operating theatres and anaesthetic/recovery areas. They may also be involved with certain procedures on wards, clinics or in other specialist areas such as cardiac catheterisation units.
Theatre nurses and ODPs can sometimes undertake similar tasks dependent on their skills, training and job description and can develop their careers in similar ways after qualifying. However. the entry routes are different as is registration (a legal requirement to practice in the UK as a theatre nurse or ODP). Generally speaking theatre nurses can specialise in a specific area such as anaesthetics, scrub and post-anaesthetic care or rotate through the areas. Rotation is common practice in a day surgery environment.
Entry requirements
You will need to be a registered nurse to work as a theatre nurse. Normally after a period of induction you would participate in specialist training relevant to the role and embark on continuing professional development as part of your professional registration requirements. After general qualification there are post basic educational courses to consolidate the specialist skills required in the perioperative environment.