About this role
Job summary
The Anaesthetics & Recovery Practitioner will provide a high standard of skilled, evidence-based care to patients undergoing elective surgical procedures within the day case setting.
The post holder will work across both the anaesthetic and post-anaesthetic recovery phases of the patient's surgical pathway, supporting the anaesthetist and wider multidisciplinary team and ensuring patients receive safe, effective and individualised care.
As an experienced Band 6-level practitioner, the post holder will be expected to demonstrate advanced clinical knowledge, recognise and respond promptly to clinical deterioration, provide leadership to junior members of the team and contribute to clinical governance, audit, training and service development.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will
- Provide skilled assistance to the anaesthetist throughout the anaesthetic phase of the patient's surgical pathway.
- Prepare the anaesthetic environment prior to commencement of operating lists.
- Undertake appropriate checks of anaesthetic machines, monitoring equipment, airway equipment and emergency equipment.
- Ensure all required equipment and consumables are available and fit for purpose.
- Prepare and check equipment required for airway management, including routine and difficult airway equipment.
- Assist with the induction, maintenance and emergence from general anaesthesia.
- Assist with regional and local anaesthetic techniques where required and within scope of competence.
- Anticipate the requirements of the anaesthetist and respond appropriately to changing clinical circumstances.
- Assist with airway management and demonstrate competence in the use of relevant airway equipment.
- Support safe positioning and transfer of anaesthetised patients.
- Participate fully in the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist and associated patient safety processes.
- Ensure appropriate checks of emergency equipment are undertaken and documented.
- Maintain a safe, organised and appropriately stocked anaesthetic environment.
- Recognise anaesthetic emergencies and respond promptly and appropriately.
About us
Tyneside Surgical Services is an independent provider who treats a wide range of specialities. Established in 2007, the company has continued to grow and has its own day case facility within the Team Valley site in Gateshead. The facility comprises a surgical day case unit, endoscopy, outpatient clinic facilities, as well as on-site MRI and ultrasound scanning.
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Registered Nurse (RGN) or Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) to join our theatre team in a Band 6-level Anaesthetics and Recovery role.
The successful candidate will have significant previous experience within anaesthetics and post-anaesthetic recovery and will be confident working within a busy day case surgical environment.
This is a senior clinical role requiring excellent clinical judgement, leadership, communication and organisational skills. The post holder will be expected to work autonomously within their professional scope of practice whilst contributing to the leadership, safety and continued development of the service.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Anaesthetic Practice
The post holder will
Post-Anaesthetic Recovery
The post holder will
- Receive patients into the recovery area following surgery and anaesthesia.
- Undertake systematic assessment and continuous monitoring of patients during the immediate post-operative period.
- Maintain and monitor the patient's airway and respiratory status.
- Monitor cardiovascular status, oxygen saturation, level of consciousness, temperature and other appropriate physiological observations.
- Recognise and manage airway compromise and other immediate post-anaesthetic complications.
- Assess and manage post-operative pain in accordance with prescriptions and agreed protocols.
- Recognise and manage post-operative nausea and vomiting.
- Monitor surgical wounds, dressings, drains and potential post-operative bleeding.
- Recognise early signs of clinical deterioration and initiate appropriate interventions.
- Escalate concerns promptly to the anaesthetist, surgeon or appropriate senior clinician.
- Provide emergency care within the post holder's scope of practice.
- Maintain accurate and contemporaneous recovery documentation.
- Ensure patients meet agreed recovery criteria before transfer to the day case ward.
- Provide a comprehensive clinical handover to the receiving practitioner.
Emergency and Resuscitation Responsibilities
The post holder will
- Maintain a high level of competence in recognising and responding to the deteriorating patient.
- Respond effectively to airway emergencies, respiratory compromise, cardiovascular instability and other perioperative emergencies.
- Participate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency management within their level of competence.
- Be familiar with the location and use of emergency and resuscitation equipment.
- Participate in emergency simulations and drills.
- Support junior staff during emergency situations and provide appropriate clinical leadership.
- Ensure emergency equipment is appropriately checked and available for immediate use.
Senior Clinical & Leadership Responsibilities
As a Band 6-level practitioner, the post holder will be expected to:
- Act as a senior and experienced member of the clinical team.
- Provide visible clinical leadership within anaesthetics and recovery.
- Act as a positive professional role model.
- Support the coordination and safe running of theatre lists.
- Prioritise workload and allocate resources appropriately according to patient and service needs.
- Exercise professional judgement and autonomous decision-making within their scope of practice.
- Provide advice, support and clinical guidance to less experienced staff.
- Support the induction, supervision and development of new staff.
- Participate in competency assessment and clinical education where appropriate.
- Identify areas for improvement and contribute to service development.
- Promote a culture of openness, learning and continuous improvement.
- Escalate staffing, equipment, clinical or operational concerns appropriately.
- Support the Registered Manager and clinical leadership team in maintaining high standards of patient care.
Medicines Management
The post holder will
- Ensure medicines are handled and administered safely and in accordance with legislation, professional standards and TSS policies.
- Undertake appropriate medicines checks and maintain accurate documentation.
- Prepare and administer medicines within their professional scope of practice and organisational policy.
- Maintain safe systems for the storage and security of medicines.
- Comply with organisational procedures relating to controlled drugs.
- Report and escalate medication incidents, discrepancies or concerns promptly.
- Maintain competence in medicines management through mandatory training and assessment.
Patient Safety & Clinical Governance
The post holder will
- Promote patient safety at all times.
- Work in accordance with TSS policies, procedures and clinical governance arrangements.
- Participate in clinical audit, quality improvement and service evaluation.
- Identify, report and escalate incidents, near misses and patient safety concerns.
- Participate in incident reviews and implementation of learning where required.
- Contribute to the development and review of clinical policies, procedures and standard operating procedures.
- Maintain high standards of infection prevention and control.
- Ensure equipment is appropriately maintained, cleaned and stored.
- Report equipment faults and remove unsafe equipment from use where appropriate.
- Participate in risk assessments and contribute to the management of identified clinical risks.
- Support compliance with CQC requirements and other applicable regulatory and professional standards.
- Participate in mandatory training, emergency exercises and clinical competency assessments.
Communication & Multidisciplinary Working
The post holder will
- Communicate effectively and professionally with patients, relatives and carers.
- Provide reassurance and support to patients who may be anxious about surgery and anaesthesia.
- Communicate effectively with surgeons, anaesthetists, nursing staff, ODPs and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Provide clear, concise and accurate clinical handovers.
- Escalate clinical concerns promptly and appropriately.
- Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
- Promote effective teamwork and respectful professional relationships.
- Contribute positively to clinical meetings, governance discussions and service development.
Professional Responsibilities
The post holder must
- Maintain current professional registration with either the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Nurse or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as an Operating Department Practitioner.
- Practice in accordance with the relevant professional code, standards and scope of practice.
- Maintain professional competence and accountability.
- Maintain an appropriate professional portfolio and comply with revalidation/registration requirements.
- Undertake continuing professional development relevant to anaesthetic and recovery practice.
- Complete all mandatory training within required timescales.
- Maintain an appropriate level of resuscitation training for the role.
- Participate in appraisal and performance review.
- Recognise the limits of individual competence and seek appropriate advice or support when required.
The post holder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the seniority and nature of the role to support the effective operation of Tyneside Surgical Services.
The duties outlined within this job description are not intended to be exhaustive and may be reviewed in consultation with the post holder to reflect changes in clinical practice, professional standards and the needs of the service.
All staff are expected to uphold the standards and values of Tyneside Surgical Services and contribute to the provision of a safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led service.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-registration/qualification experience within theatre practice.
- Established experience assisting with anaesthesia.
- Established experience caring for patients within post-anaesthetic recovery.
- Experience caring for patients undergoing general anaesthesia.
- Experience in airway assessment, management and monitoring.
- Experience recognising and managing the deteriorating post-operative patient.
- Experience managing post-operative pain, nausea and other common post-anaesthetic complications.
- Experience using anaesthetic, monitoring and recovery equipment.
- Experience working effectively within a multidisciplinary theatre team.
- Experience providing clinical support and guidance to junior or less experienced colleagues.
Desirable
- Experience within an independent healthcare or day case surgical environment.
- Experience in a wide range of elective surgical specialties.
- Experience within plastic and cosmetic surgery.
- Experience caring for patients following plastic and reconstructive procedures.
- Experience in wound assessment and post-operative wound management.
- Experience supervising, mentoring or assessing other clinical staff.
- Experience coordinating theatre activity or taking responsibility for the clinical area.
- Experience of clinical audit, incident investigation and quality improvement.
- Experience contributing to policy, protocol or SOP development.
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Adult) with current NMC registration OR qualified Operating Department Practitioner with current HCPC registration.
- Relevant post-registration/post-qualification experience within an operating theatre environment.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Appropriate current resuscitation qualification/training.
- Evidence of competency in anaesthetic and/or recovery practice.
Desirable
- Previous experience working at Band 6 level or equivalent senior practitioner level.
- Recognised anaesthetic and/or recovery qualification or relevant post-registration course.
- Immediate Life Support (ILS) or Advanced Life Support (ALS) qualification.
- Qualified in Cannulation
- Qualified in venepuncture
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.
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
Tyneside Surgical Services
Address
Tyneside Surgical Services
Independent House
Fifth Avenue
Gateshead
Tyne And Wear
NE11 0HF
United Kingdom
Employer's website
http://www.tynesidesurgicalservices.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)