Theatre Nurse

Role Overview

As a Peri-operative Nurse, you will provide skilled, continuous care to patients before, during and immediately after surgery, working alongside surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre teams to keep every procedure safe and efficient. You will hold responsibility for the sterile field, instrument and swab integrity, and the accuracy of the checks that protect patients from harm in one of the hospital's highest-risk environments. Your clinical judgement and calm hands directly shape surgical outcomes, theatre turnaround times and the overall standard of care the facility is known for.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare the operating theatre before each list, confirming that instruments, sutures, consumables, suction, diathermy and lighting are available, functioning and sterile.
• Perform the scrub nurse role by gowning and gloving correctly, anticipating the surgeon's needs, and passing instruments without compromising the sterile field.
• Carry out the circulating nurse role, including patient positioning, skin preparation, documentation and supplying the team throughout the procedure.
• Complete instrument, swab and needle counts before, during and at the close of surgery in line with theatre policy, escalating any discrepancy immediately.
• Verify patient identity, consent, site marking, allergies and nil-by-mouth status, and apply the surgical safety checklist at each required stage.
• Monitor the patient's condition and support the anaesthetic team with airway, monitoring and emergency drug needs as required.
• Receive and assess patients in the recovery area, manage pain, nausea and airway concerns, and hand over clearly to ward staff.
• Maintain infection prevention standards through correct decontamination, waste segregation and adherence to aseptic technique.
• Document all intra-operative events, specimens and implants accurately in the patient record.
• Participate in emergency call coverage, sterile stock control and the orientation or mentorship of junior theatre staff and students.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN), Kenya Registered Nurse (KRN) or Kenya Registered Community Health Nurse (KRCHN) qualification.
• Higher Diploma in Peri-operative Nursing.
• Active registration with the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK).
• Valid, current NCK practising licence.
• Minimum of 4 years' experience working as a Registered Nurse.
• At least 2 years' progressive experience in a busy operating theatre environment.
• Sound knowledge of aseptic technique, surgical instrumentation, anaesthetic support and the surgical safety checklist.
• Strong attention to detail, manual dexterity and the ability to remain composed during emergencies and high-pressure lists.
• Effective teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to give and receive clear instructions under time pressure.
• Willingness to work shifts, on-call rotations and weekends as theatre schedules demand.