Perioperative Nurse

Role Overview

Working under the Chief Nursing Officer, the Perioperative Nurse delivers specialised nursing care to patients before, during, and after surgical and invasive procedures. The role is central to maintaining a safe, sterile, and efficient operating theatre, and it requires close collaboration with surgeons, anaesthetists, and other theatre staff to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. Every action is guided by evidence-based practice, patient safety, and infection prevention.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform pre-operative assessments, including reviewing medical history, allergies, current medications, laboratory results, and informed consent, while confirming fasting status and baseline vital signs.
• Prepare the operating theatre and sterile field by assembling instruments, supplies, and equipment, and verifying that all devices are functioning correctly before each case.
• Act in scrubbed or circulating roles during surgery, maintaining aseptic technique, passing instruments, anticipating the surgeon's needs, and handling specimens appropriately.
• Monitor patients throughout procedures by tracking vital signs, administering medications and fluids as prescribed, and documenting all interventions and observations accurately.
• Safeguard patient safety by verifying patient identity, procedure, and surgical site, performing instrument, swab, and needle counts, and following strict infection control and waste disposal protocols.
• Provide post-operative care in the recovery area, including monitoring for complications, managing pain and wounds, and ensuring a structured handover to ward or PACU staff.
• Educate patients and their families on post-operative care, wound management, medication, and follow-up appointments.
• Participate in team briefings, quality improvement activities, and ongoing professional development to keep skills and knowledge current.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Diploma in Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing or Kenya Registered Nursing.
• Higher Diploma in Perioperative Nursing (mandatory).
• Active registration with the Nursing Council of Kenya and a valid practising licence.
• At least two years' experience working in a busy operating room.
• Recent experience providing direct nursing care during surgical cases within the last year.
• Valid Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) certificates.
• Strong knowledge of aseptic technique, surgical instrumentation, and sterile field management.
• Ability to stay calm, communicate clearly, and work effectively within a multidisciplinary theatre team.