Registered Nurse - Adult (SSSU)

NHS; Luton; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Luton is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse to join their Surgical Short Stay Unit. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing exceptional post-operative care to patients. Candidates must be NMC registered, possess mentorship qualifications, and have a solid background in acute healthcare settings. This is a full-time role with a commitment to continuous professional development and patient care excellence.

Qualifications

• Experience working in an acute hospital setting at Band 5.
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
• Good level of clinical skills within one or more perioperative disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Admit day surgery and inpatients completing comprehensive assessments.
• Demonstrate safe, quality care to post-operative patients.
• Manage post-operative pain and nausea.

Skills

Clinical skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Organizational skills

Pressure management

Education

NMC Registered Nurse

Mentorship qualification

Tools

Patient administration systems

Job description

Overview

Go back Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Registered Nurse - Adult (SSSU)

The closing date is 03 October 2025

We have an exciting opportunity available at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for an experienced Registered Nurse to join our committed team in the Surgical Short Stay Unit at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

We are seeking applications from experienced Registered Nurses who have the ability and determination to learn and to gain new skills and competencies and who are motivated to develop the highest standards of care and who are committed to continuous improvement.

We are an innovative and busy Surgical Short Stay Unit, separated into two parts. We have a day surgery unit, where patients are admitted and then discharged on the same day as their operation. We are also opening up a Surgical Short Stay ward, which will admit patients needing an overnight stay after their surgery.

The unit provides for a variety of procedures and strives to provide exceptional levels of patient care in order to meet the expanding needs of the local community.

The shift pattern is long days (07:00am - 19:30pm) and nights (19:00pm - 07:30am). The Unit will be open 365 days of the year, covering a 24/7 service.

If you are not sure what we do or if the Surgical Short Stay Unit is for you, please call us to arrange a visit we would love the opportunity to show you around, meet the team and see the great work we do.

This post is not suitable for newly qualified nurses or those soon to qualify.

Please contact the Ward Manager on 07811698007 or 07484471022 for further information.

Main duties of the job

• Admit day surgery and inpatients completing a comprehensive assessment.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide safe, quality care to post-operative patients undergoing various surgical procedures.
• Safely discharge patients and ensure they meet all day surgery criteria, as well as providing patients with all relevant discharge and recovery information.
• Be able to manage post-operative pain and nausea
• Demonstrate and apply clinical decision-making skills to all clinical specialties.
• Liaise with specialist teams to create and organise post-operative care.
• Be IV competent, venepuncture and cannulation competent.
• Be able to monitor catheters and when to raise concerns regarding fluid input and output.
• To be able to perform a bladder scan, ECGs, Vital observations.
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Maintain patient dignity, respect, equality and diversity as per Trust Policies.
• Act as a mentor to junior staff and create a positive learning culture
• Provide teaching to all students and new staff as part of an ongoing development programme.
• Participate in local audits.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Job responsibilities

See main job description for full list

Admit day surgery and inpatients completing a comprehensive assessment.

Demonstrate the ability to provide safe, quality care to post-operative patients undergoing various surgical procedures.

Safely discharge patients and ensure they meet all day surgery criteria, as well as providing patients with all relevant discharge and recovery information.

Be able to manage post-operative pain and nausea

Demonstrate and apply clinical decision-making skills to all clinical specialties

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NMC Registered Nurse
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
• Mentorship or teaching qualification

Experience

• Experience of working in an acute hospital setting at Band 5
• Good level of clinical skills within one or more of the perioperative disciplines
• Experience of dealing with emergency situations
• Knowledge of clinical effectiveness, research and audit

Communication

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Demonstrates the ability to undertake challenging conversations
• Ability to communicate with the MDT
• Counselling or coaching skills

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work under pressure and seek help when required
• Team Player
• Ability to prioritise and organise workload
• Enthusiasm and motivation
• Good use of initiative

Skills

• Good organisational / time management skills
• Ability to problem solve
• Willingness to learn new skills
• Competent in the administration of intravenous medication
• Knowledge of patient administration systems e.g. PAS
• Venepuncture and Cannnulation

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.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust