Nurse Supervisor, OR Recovery

Role Overview

This role leads the daily operations of the perioperative nursing team, ensuring that surgical patients receive safe, high-quality care in a well-organised environment. Day to day, the position involves supervising nursing staff, coordinating with surgeons and anaesthetists, managing resources, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. This leadership is critical to maintaining patient safety, staff development, and the overall effectiveness of surgical services within a busy acute-care hospital.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the perioperative nursing team in setting and achieving annual goals aligned with the hospital’s broader nursing and surgical strategies, and evaluate progress regularly.
• Oversee daily staffing levels and skill mix to ensure safe, efficient patient care across all shifts in the operating theatre.
• Lead the development, implementation, and periodic review of clinical policies, protocols, care guidelines, and patient pathways in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
• Manage the full recruitment cycle for nursing staff, from selection through onboarding and ongoing training, and design retention programmes to minimise turnover.
• Conduct performance appraisals for perioperative nurses, create individual development plans, and identify learning opportunities to build clinical competency.
• Monitor unit costs, inventory, and bad debts, participate in budget planning, and implement measures to use resources efficiently while maintaining care standards.
• Partner with the marketing department to design and execute strategies that attract new patients and grow surgical volumes.
• Lead or participate in clinical rounds, mortality and morbidity reviews, and quality indicator tracking to evaluate outcomes and drive evidence-based improvements.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from a recognised institution, with an active licence from the Nursing Council of Kenya.
• Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS).
• Minimum of five years’ clinical nursing experience in an operating theatre within an acute-care hospital setting.
• Demonstrated expert-level knowledge and practical skills in perioperative nursing.
• Proven leadership and management abilities, including supervisory experience in a surgical unit.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for effective collaboration with physicians, nurses, and administrators.
• Proficient in basic computer applications (e.g., Microsoft Office, hospital information systems).
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, while also fostering a team-oriented environment.