About this role
Job summary
Orthopaedic Scrub Nurse
We are seeking a motivated and skilled Band 5 Orthopaedic Scrub Nurse to join our dynamic Theatre team. This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic nurse with at least 2 years' experience in a fast-paced theatre environment within an acute hospital setting, who is passionate about delivering safe, high-quality perioperative care within a busy and progressive Orthopaedic Theatre environment.
You will work alongside a multidisciplinary team supporting a wide range of elective and trauma orthopaedic procedures, including joint replacements, trauma fixation, arthroscopy, spinal surgery, and upper/lower limb surgeries.
To succeed in this post, you will be a Registered Nurse with valid NMC registration, ideally bringing experience in orthopaedic scrub practice, although full training will be provided for the right candidate. You should be able to work confidently under pressure in a fast-paced theatre setting, demonstrate strong communication and organizational skills, and show a clear commitment to professional development, patient safety, and continuous improvement.
Main duties of the job
In this role, you will provide skilled scrub support for a wide range of elective and trauma orthopaedic procedures, ensuring that all surgical instruments, implants, and equipment are prepared and managed safely throughout each operation. You will work closely with surgeons, anaesthetists, ODPs, and the wider theatre team to deliver high-quality, patient-centred perioperative care, maintaining a sterile field and consistently upholding infection-prevention standards. A key part of the role involves anticipating the needs of the surgical team, responding effectively to any changes during procedures, and ensuring accurate documentation of operative details and implant usage.
You will also support efficient theatre flow by assisting with patient preparation, safe positioning, and postoperative processes as required. Additionally, you will take responsibility for the set-up and close-down of theatres, ensuring equipment is cleaned, checked, and restocked. As a Band 5 nurse, you will contribute to a positive learning environment by supporting junior colleagues and students, participating in ongoing professional development, and engaging in quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety and experience.
About us
Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we reserve the right to close adverts once sufficient applications have been received.
We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.
Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the Shortlisting Criteria section of the document.
In your supporting statement, please explain which of our values resonates most with you and why. Applications that do not address this may not be considered.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- NMC Registered Nurse/HCPC ODP diploma/degree level *
- Evidence of professional expertise acquired through CPD
- Mentorship Qualification
- Theatre environment experience
Desirable
- Orthopaedic Post registration Training
- NHS experience
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Previous recent experience of working within the surgical/theatre environment
- Identification and assessment of patient needs
Desirable
- Recent knowledge of current NHS issues
- Experience with trauma and elective orthopaedic procedures.
- Knowledge of orthopaedic instruments, implants and specialist equipment.
Skills
Essential
- Understanding of aseptic technique and infection prevention.
- Ability to work under pressure and effective time management
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
- Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records.
- Flexible and adaptable to service demands.
Desirable
- Orthopaedic Experience
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
University Hospitals of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Kettering
NN16 8UZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.kgh.nhs.uk/working-for-us (Opens in a new tab)