Pre-Operative Assessment Nurse - Band 6 | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in the UK is seeking a nurse for Surgical Pre-admission Assessment. The role involves assessing patients for surgeries, coordinating departmental flow, and ensuring optimal patient pathways. Candidates should have experience in surgical procedures, excellent communication skills, and NMC registration. A supportive team environment is provided at Poole Hospital, with potential cross-site work.

Qualifications

• Experience and knowledge of surgical procedures and pathways.
• Good critical decision-making and communication skills.
• NMC Registration is required.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients undergoing surgical procedures.
• Coordinate the department to ensure patient flow.
• Order investigations per guidelines.
• Refer to MDT as appropriate.
• Communicate with admissions teams.
• Coordinate patient follow-up.

Skills

Critical decision-making

Communication skills

Education

NMC Registration

Formal qualification in advanced history taking

Job description

Overview

Surgical Pre-admission Assessment is a great way to develop your nursing career. The post involves screening and pre-operative assessment of a diverse group of patients undergoing a wide range of elective surgical and orthopaedic procedures. The role requires an inquisitive nature and provides a varied and interesting workload where two days are never the same. We pride ourselves on being a close and supportive team that includes Anaesthetists, a Clinical Lead Nurse, Specialist nurses, Staff nurses, health care assistants, and administrative staff, who provide the successful candidate with the support required to become an integral member of our team.

Please note: Poole Hospital is the base location, and cross-site working may be required.

Responsibilities

• Assessment of patients undergoing surgical procedures, including taking a full health history, utilising GP records and historic notes, to ensure an optimal pathway through to safe surgery. With advanced training, the band 6 role includes physical assessment of patients.
• Coordinate the department on a daily basis to ensure flow of patients through the department and best utilisation of staff.
• Order investigations including, but not restricted to, blood tests, ECGs, swabs, and urine samples as per NICE guidelines and UHD protocols.
• Refer to MDT where appropriate, to include anaesthetist, anticoagulant clinic, and respiratory function team.
• Communicate with MDT including admissions teams.
• Coordinate patient follow-up as an integral part of the role.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience and knowledge of surgical procedures and pathways with good critical decision-making and communication skills.
• A formal qualification in advanced history taking would be advantageous.
• NMC Registration is required.

Team, Location and Working Arrangements

We are a close and supportive team comprising Anaesthetists, a Clinical Lead Nurse, Specialist nurses, Staff nurses, health care assistants, and administrative staff.

Base Location: Poole Hospital (cross-site working may be required).

Additional Information

• Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD and underpin our interactions with patients, visitors, and colleagues. Some services may move sites this year or next, either temporarily or long term as part of merger and new hospital programme developments.
• If the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Other changes will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.
• To understand the role in more detail, please read the full job description and person specification documents attached to this advert.
• Interview Date: TBC
• Advert closes on: Tuesday 30 Sep 2025