Theatre Nurse at Avenue Healthcare

Job Objective/Purpose

• Adhere to Avenue Healthcare’s defined policies, protocols, procedures and standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintaining Theatre list
• Correctly book patients for surgical procedures 
• Ensure surgeon / anaesthetist are informed of bookings or changes in time

Receiving Patients 

• Checks completeness of theatre checklist and act appropriately
• Carry out a Pre-Operative Assessment
• Appropriately explain the nature of the procedure / operation to the patient
• Ensure all X-rays, Scans, Investigations and Bloods are available
• Obtains correct consent for operations and general anaesthesia for day cases
• Prepares and avails patient in time for operation with all reports for day cases

Operating Room Management 

• Accounting for all the pieces of equipment, especially after the operation. 
• Getting and opening packs required 
• Ensures that the packs remain sterile and that the operating room environment is contamination free

Post-Operation

• Accurately assesses patient after operation, documents clinical observations & findings
• Consults and advises surgeon / anaesthetist immediately if abnormalities are noted
• Effectively hands over the patient to recovery / ward nurse

Drug Administration

• Ensure all required drugs/supplies are available
• Adhere to the 10 rights of drug administration (right patient, medication, dosage, route, time, documentation, client education, assessment, evaluation and client refusal of treatment)
• Ensure all treatment sheets have patients biodata including information on drug allergies.
• Submit all new drug orders to pharmacy promptly and STAT doses given within 30 minutes
• Ensures all the items used by patients are billed accurately 
• Ensures crash cart and emergency equipment are checked as required by the hospital standards

Equipment

• Ensures that the Operating Room is well stocked with the required surgical instruments
• Keep regular inventory of equipment
• Keep all necessary packs and instruments organized for easy use during each procedure

Infection - Control

• Ensure proper disposal of medical waste
• Ensure medical equipment are disinfected before next use
• Ensure proper disinfectants are used
• Maintain and enforce infection control standards per the hospital manual and observe the infection control bundles (SSI, VAP, CAUTI and CLABSI) where applicable.
• Record all sentinel incidents/events and report within 24 hours using the provided tools
• Ensure patients safety following the 6 International Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs) 
• Ensure all the relevant consultants have explained procedures and have obtained consent
• Complete official checklists for all patients prior to procedures (theatre, radiology, renal)
• Ensure patient privacy and confidentiality is maintained at all times, as per policy.
• Participate in emergency response
• Ensure client satisfaction through optimal quality of care, effective communication, timely feedback and escalation of unresolved issues to the incharge and demonstrate follow-up and improvement.
• Any other duty as assigned by your immediate supervisor in line with the job description

Person Specification

• A higher diploma in Nursing/Bachelor of Science in Nursing 
• Higher Diploma in Perioperative Nursing is a must have   
• A valid nursing council of Kenya license
• Up to date BLS, ACLS/ATLS certificate
• 2 years’ experience in nursing
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with attention to detail and results oriented