Nurse- Operating Theatre

Role Overview

This position sits at the centre of the operating theatre team, carrying a patient through the full surgical journey: pre-operative assessment and preparation, intra-operative scrub or circulating duties, and post-anaesthesia recovery through to safe handover. You will work alongside surgeons, anaesthetists, and fellow theatre nurses to keep every case sterile, well-organised, and focused on patient safety. Because surgical outcomes depend heavily on the vigilance and discipline of the nurse in the room, this role directly shapes the quality of care the hospital delivers and the trust patients place in it.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess patients before surgery, confirming identity, consent, allergies, fasting status, and relevant history, and escalate any concerns before the patient enters theatre.
• Prepare the theatre environment, instruments, sutures, and sterile supplies for each procedure, verifying that equipment is functioning and that all items needed for the planned operation are available.
• Perform scrub nurse duties by maintaining the sterile field, anticipating the surgeon's needs, and passing instruments correctly throughout the operation.
• Perform circulating nurse duties, including positioning and monitoring the patient, managing documentation, and coordinating with the anaesthetic team.
• Apply the surgical safety checklist at each stage and perform instrument, swab, and needle counts with the team to prevent retained items.
• Uphold infection prevention and control standards at all times, including aseptic technique, correct use of personal protective equipment, and safe handling of specimens.
• Receive patients in the recovery area, monitor vital signs and consciousness levels, manage pain and nausea, and identify and respond to post-operative complications.
• Document care accurately and hand over patients to ward staff with clear, complete information on the procedure, condition, and ongoing care needs.

Requirements & Qualifications

• BSc in Nursing, or registered as a Kenya Registered Nurse (KRN) or Kenya Registered Community Health Nurse (KRCHN).
• Higher National Diploma in Peri-Operative Nursing (KRPON) is an added advantage.
• Valid nursing licence from the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK).
• BLS, ACLS, ATLS, and PALS certification is recommended.
• At least two (2) years' nursing experience gained in a busy hospital setting.