Registered Nurse - OT

JobSpace; Manawatū-Whanganui; On-site; NZD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

An encouraging learning environment

Supportive culture and team

Tailored wellness programmes

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking a Registered Nurse to join the Peri-operative Service at Palmerston North Hospital. This permanent, full-time role involves rostered and rotating duties in the operating theatre, with on-call requirements as needed.

You will work with patients and whānau, applying sterile technique, nursing standards, and a focus on safety and quality. Experience in scrub-side peri-operative care is preferred, with orientation provided.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with current practising certificate.
• Understanding of NZ Nursing Council scope of practice.
• Experience or interest in peri-operative nursing.
• Ability to document clearly in clinical records.
• Commitment to culturally safe, patient-centred care.

Responsibilities

• Support elective and acute operating theatres in scrub and/or circulating roles.
• Maintain sterile technique and accurate surgical counts.
• Assist with patient positioning and pressure-area care.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team to provide safe care.

Skills

RN registration

Nursing practice scope

Surgical nursing

Team collaboration

Patient advocacy

Clinical documentation

Cultural safety

Risk management

Education

Nursing degree

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Registered Nurse – Operating Theatre (Scrub Side)

Palmerston North Hospital | Permanent, full-time | 1.0 FTE

Join a skilled and supportive Peri-operative Service nursing team

Develop your specialist operating theatre skills in a structured learning environment

Enjoy fulfilling clinical work alongside the lifestyle benefits of the Manawatū

• An encouraging learning environment where you will continue to grow and be challenged
• A professional and supportive culture and team setting
• Fulfilling and challenging work with great lifestyle options
• Tailored wellness programmes

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

We are seeking an energetic and motivated Registered Nurse to join our Peri-operative Service nursing team at Palmerston North Hospital. This is a permanent, full-time position working rostered and rotating duties, with overtime and on-call responsibilities as required by the needs of the service.

In this role, you will work in partnership with patients and their whānau and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to provide safe, effective, and high-quality nursing care. Your practice will align with professional and organisational standards, policies, procedures, and the nursing philosophy of the service.

You will support both elective and acute operating theatres and demonstrate safe practice in scrub and/or circulating roles. Key responsibilities include maintaining strict sterile technique, ensuring accurate surgical counts, supporting correct patient positioning and pressure-area care, and developing broad knowledge of specialty-specific surgical procedures.

At least two years of Operating Theatre scrub-side experience is preferred. However, applications from nurse graduates with an interest in peri-operative nursing are also welcomed, as we recognise the importance of developing skilled nurses in this specialty. Successful applicants will be supported through a comprehensive orientation programme.

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.

About You

You will be a professional, patient-focused Registered Nurse who is committed to providing safe and culturally responsive care.

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Registration as a Registered Nurse with a current practising certificate
• An understanding of the Nursing Council of New Zealand Registered Nurse scope of practice
• The ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively in all situations
• The ability to build positive working relationships with patients, whānau, and members of the multidisciplinary team
• Knowledge and experience in surgical nursing, with an understanding of the peri-operative patient journey
• The ability to provide individualised care while preserving patient dignity, privacy, and confidentiality
• A commitment to delivering care that recognises patients' rights and respects their ethnic and cultural values
• Computer literacy and the ability to maintain clear, current, accurate, and timely clinical documentation

You will maintain a professional attitude, practise within your scope, recognise and manage clinical risks, and contribute positively to patient safety, teamwork, ongoing learning, and quality improvement.

About the Team/Service

The Peri-operative Service provides nursing care across elective and acute operating theatres at Palmerston North Hospital. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team committed to delivering safe, coordinated, patient- and whānau-centred surgical care.

The service offers an environment where Registered Nurses can strengthen their clinical knowledge, develop technical theatre skills, and contribute to continuous improvement in peri-operative practice.

Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua – MidCentral is a 350-bed hospital in the city of Palmerston North, Manawatū, a city in the Lower North Island of New Zealand. Palmerston North Hospital is a secondary hospital and offers most medical and surgical specialties with the exception of Cardiothoracic, Plastic and Neurosurgery. The hospital serves a local population of 180,000 but is the base for a regional head and neck oncology service which has responsibility for a population of 550,000 and draws patients from Whanganui, Taranaki, and Hawke's Bay.

Employing over 2500 people, MidCentral offers a supportive work environment that accepts and values all employees. We actively seek Māori kaimahi into our workforce and provide an environment which delivers our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

About the Location

Manawatū offers the perfect blend of city convenience and rural charm. Whether you're drawn to peaceful village life, vibrant townships, or the buzz of the city, you'll find your ideal lifestyle here. It's a family-friendly region that's easy to live in and even easier to love. The region is also home to excellent schools and two tertiary institutions: Massey University and the International Pacific College.

Outdoor enthusiasts are spoiled for choice—beaches, ski fields, lakes, and mountains are all within reach, along with fantastic hiking and mountain biking tracks. No traffic, an easy commute to work and a strong community feel, help achieve true work-life balance.

Our central location makes it easy to explore the rest of New Zealand, whether you're heading off on a road trip or catching a short flight.

For more information on living and working in the Manawatä:

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.