Senior Theatre Scrub Nurse

NHS; Margate; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is looking for an experienced Senior Theatre Scrub Nurse to join their team in Margate. This role offers a chance to provide specialized care in a busy operating theatre environment. The ideal candidate will have experience in various surgical procedures and will be responsible for ensuring high care standards and mentoring junior staff. This is a great opportunity for a dedicated professional eager to enhance their surgical expertise.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with valid NMC/HPC registration.
• Experience in perioperative settings and operating theatre.
• Competency in recovery and surgical procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assist in high standard surgical care before, during, and after operations.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to junior staff.
• Maintain accurate patient records and medication management.

Skills

Leadership, interpersonal and organisational skills

Effective oral and written skills

Highly developed physical/clinical skills

Education

Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner

NMC/HPC Registered

Mentorship or equivalent

Job description

We are growing our Theatre teams! Are you an experienced and motivated Senior Theatre Scrub Nurse ready to take the next step in your career?

We are seeking a dynamic and dedicated Senior Theatre Scrub Nurse to provide specialist care within our busy operating theatres.

The post holder will perform and assist in all aspects of surgical procedures to an expert level in line with personal competencies. The post holder will work with the surgical team in delivering and maintaining a high standard of surgical care before, during and after surgery.

We undertake a multiplicity of surgical procedures which include - but are not limited to- general surgery, Orthopaedic, gynaecology, urology, ENT and colorectal patients.

The Senior Theatre Scrub Nurse is clinically responsible to the Theatre Sister working under direction and supervision as a member of the surgical team.

Main duties of the job

To aid in the delivery of direct and indirect patient care throughout the operating department. Working within policies and procedures implement and evaluate pathways of care for the patient within the perioperative setting. Under the direction of the senior staff, liaise with medical, nursing, ancillary staff and other departments to ensure the timely delivery of patient care.

The post holder will perform and assist in all aspects of surgical procedures to a level in line with personal competencies. They will be a point of knowledge for junior team members and act as a mentor to health professionals who wish to gain competencies within the field of surgery. The post holder will work with the theatre teams in delivering and maintaining a high standard of surgical care before, during and after surgery.

Spencer Private Hospitals undertake a multiplicity of surgical procedures which include but are not limited to general surgery, orthopaedics, gynaecology, urology, ENT and colorectal patients.

Interview Date: Week commencing 12th January 2026

Please note we are not offering sponsorship for this role.

About us

We are growing our Theatre teams! Are you an experienced and motivated Senior Theatre Scrub Nurse ready to take the next step in your career?

We are seeking a dynamic and dedicated Senior Theatre Scrub Nurse to provide specialist care within our busy operating theatres.

The post holder will perform and assist in all aspects of surgical procedures to an expert level in line with personal competencies. The post holder will work with the surgical team in delivering and maintaining a high standard of surgical care before, during and after surgery.

We undertake a multiplicity of surgical procedures which include - but are not limited to- general surgery, Orthopaedic, gynaecology, urology, ENT and colorectal patients.

The Senior Theatre Scrub Nurse is clinically responsible to the Theatre Sister working under direction and supervision as a member of the surgical team.

Job responsibilities

To contribute to the maintenance of patient care standards and to assist with the implementation of changes to care delivery systems, methods and practice in order to bring about improvements in the quality of care.

To contribute to the development and implementation of professional standards which reflect customer requirements and best practice.

Carry out planned care for a group of patients without direct supervision providing individualised patient care.

Provide professional leadership, advice and guidance within the team, working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team.

Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records inline with professional standards.

Have responsibility for the administration and custody of medicines in line with SPH policy and professional standards.

Assist in the maintenance of professional standards, highlighting to the line manager when standards are not seen to be met.

Undertake practice assessments competently.

Maintain accurate clinical observations of the patient and act accordingly on findings.

Act as the patient advocate.

Be clinically competent in all areas of advanced practice relevant to the post.

Ensure own professional knowledge is continuously updated.

Work with the teams to attain and maintain a CQC rating of Good or Outstanding.

You will play a pivotal role in ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care and maintaining professional standards within the theatre setting. This is an exciting opportunity for a compassionate, forward-thinking, experienced clinician who is ready to be part of a skilled team, with a family atmosphere.

Key recommendations to ensure safe surgical practice.

The role of the theatre scrub, recovery, anaesthetic practitioner should be undertaken by someone who has successfully completed a validated university programme of study that meets the nationally recognised standards underpinning the knowledge and skills required for the role.

Theatre Scrub, Recovery, Anaesthetic Practitioners must ensure that they have appropriate indemnity cover.

Theatre Scrub, Recovery, Anaesthetic Practitioner scope of practice may be extended in line with service need.

The Theatre Scrub, Recovery, Anaesthetic Practitioner’s name and designation must be recorded within the perioperative documentation.

The practitioner acting as Scrub Practitioner must be focused upon the management of the intraoperative care required by the patient and therefore must not assume the additional duties such as that of the SFA.

The practitioner acting as Scrub Practitioner must be focused upon the management of the intraoperative care required by the patient and therefore must not assume the additional duties such as that of the SFA.

In the event that an employer considers that a dual role is required in minor surgery, then this must only be undertaken by a registered practitioner and the decision should be endorsed by a policy that fully supports this practice and should also be based on a risk assessment of each situation to ensure patient safety.

The policy and risk assessment should identify the skills, knowledge and competencies required and the category of surgery and situations for which the employing organisation determines the dual role as acceptable. If this is not in place, as part of an effective clinical governance framework, then scrub practitioners must NOT undertake SFA duties in a dual role.

Personal/Professional Development

To take every reasonable opportunity to maintain and improve your professional knowledge and competence.

To participate in personal objective setting and review, including the creation of a personal development plan and the Trusts appraisal process.

Monitoring and maintaining stock levels. Report any deficiency to the Theatre Manager as appropriate.

Participates in effective resource management for example, staffing rotas, maintaining stock levels.

Business Development

To propose and assist in the implementation of new ideas and procedures.

To implement and develop research-based nursing care, adhering to Spencer Private Hospitals Policies and Procedures.

Quality

Assess patient care needs by planning, implementing and evaluating programmes of care within a multi-disciplinary team.

Completes the Perioperative Care Plan.

Adheres to pharmaceutical codes of practice to include preparation, custody, ordering and documentation relating to controlled and prescribed drugs, as professionally qualified to do so.

To adhere to professional codes of practice and to maintain active status on the relevant professional register.

Carry out daily preparation and maintenance of complex medical equipment e.g. anaesthetic, life support, surgical items and complete the appropriate documentation. Identify and report faults to senior staff.

Participate, provide support and resuscitation skills as a member of the resuscitation team. Organise and deliver patient care and equipment during inter-department and inter-hospital patient transfers.

To liaise with colleagues, medical staff and other agencies to ensure the timely delivery of prescribed patient care.

Provide emergency theatre cover during major incidents when either on duty or called in from home.

Facilitate the delivery of surgical procedures, including positioning of patients for surgery. Ensure the correct labelling and recording of specimens. Act as the circulating person in the support of the surgical team. Perform patient and environmental safety checks.

Act as the scrub person in the surgical team with responsibility for providing the required range of sterile instruments and implants. Conduct safety checks of swabs/needles/instruments, in accordance with clinical guidelines. Complete the appropriate documentation.

Participates in the delivery of the Governance agenda. Reports actual and near miss incidents promptly and appropriately. Takes effective action to minimize risk.

To monitor patient condition for any adverse reactions and act upon appropriately.

Take all necessary precautions to protect self and others from contamination from body fluids, infectious materials and toxic substances encountered during daily practice and a working knowledge of infection control.

To recognise and report abnormal clinical situations and report them to the Theatre Manager.

To keep his or her knowledge updated about the procedures to be adopted in the event of fire, untoward incidents, major incidents, accidents and faulty equipment.

To actively demonstrate an up to date knowledge of current clinical practice.

Person Specification

Skills

• Leadership, interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Good working knowledge of Word/Excel/Outlook.
• Effective oral and written skills.
• Ability to work as member of a team.
• Dealing with emergency situations within operating theatre department.
• Highly developed physical/clinical skills where accuracy is important.

Experience

• Ability to assess, plan and evaluate patient care.
• Knowledge of research and evidence-based practice.
• Catalyst for change.
• Teaching and assessing/mentorship, or willing to undertake.
• Knowledge of CQC.
• Provide highly specialised emergency knowledge.
• Orthopaedic, general, gynae, urology, ENT surgeries.
• Minimally invasive procedures.
• Laser applications.
• Multiskilling - demonstrate competency in recovery and.

Other

• Manual handling of patients and manoeuvring heavy instrumentation and equipment.
• Frequent unpleasant working conditions; contact with body fluids, foul linen daily.
• Daily contact with substances hazardous to health.
• Flexible to needs of the business.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse or Operating Department Practitioner.
• NMC/HPC Registered.
• Mentorship or equivalent.

Personal Attributes

• Remain alert and focused for long periods of time.
• Long periods of peri-operative concentration.
• Occasional demands and interruptions.

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.