Theatre Recovery Staff Nurse

Job Title:

Theatre Recovery Staff Nurse

Number Of Years Dedicated To This Field Of Work or Lifestyle:

15

Category Of Work:

Employment – Paid Work

Country / Area of Work:

United Kingdom

Industry:

Healthcare

Type:

Employment

Key Skills For The Job:

Nursing qualification

Vital Key Skill:

Ability to remain calm in highly demanding and stressful situations.

Your Personal Experience Of Entering This Role:

Other DC / Aptitude test as GCSE’s were not high enough.

Tips For Undertaking This Work:

When undertaking a nursing qualification, many options become open to you, which you perhaps were not aware of before. Nursing is now a degree level course and often once accepted, the time between application and commencing the course can be up to 2 years, so apply with that in mind.

Future Progression Or Developments:

Throughout the NHS system, also private work.  Opportunity to become specialised in other areas.

Advice You Would Give To A Younger You Undertaking This Work:

It is hard work, you will see a lot of things that are hard to accept and often see the worst side of human beings. However, the rewards are worth it and giving something back is immeasurable.

Being a hand to hold as someone leaves this world is the most privileged position a person can be in. Being the person to break the news to the family – unenviable, but you do it, because at that moment, it is the single most important thing you can do for another person. On the flip side, seeing a baby born into the world, a new life, is fulfilling and exciting. You will see and experience all sides of life.

This is not 9-5, you will work long hours, for average pay and be expected to be dedicated, professional, calm, knowledgeable and diplomatic, all with lifesaving medical equipment. If you can handle the politics of the career, then the job will come easily.

What Are The ‘tools of the trade’ Used Daily:

Yourself – knowledge base. Anaesthetic and nursing equipment, basic observations equipment, controlled drugs and airway management systems.

A Typical Day’s Duties:

8:00 a.m arrive, open the department, damp dust and check all emergency and general equipment is in safe working order.  Check stock levels are sufficient for the day.
Theatre lists commence at 8:30 a.m. – duties are to safely and effectively recover patients from general and local anaesthetics.  Receive patients from theatre, observe and document condition and all nursing care given during their recovery time. Check wounds, fluids and give care as per care plan and surgeon / anaesthetic orders. Once safely recovered, hand over to a ward nurse who will return the patient to the ward.

Is Travelling A Regularly Part Of This Work:

No

Weekly Working Hours:

Full Time

Type Of Hours Arrangement:

Hours By Rota / Roster – Changes Regularly.

The Best Thing About The Work You Do:

When it goes well and patients recover safely and return to the ward. Knowing you have done your best for someone.

Your Least Favorite Thing About The Work You Do:

When the outcome is not favourable for the patient and also that the patients are in the department for a short time so there is no time to form a bond or relationship with them.

Any Duties You Hadn’t Anticipated Prior To Undertaking The Work:

When Intensive care has no beds free, recovery tends to become a makeshift intensive or high dependancy care unit until a bed becomes available.

The Top Perks Of The Work:

If you need medical advice or an operation, you know who the best surgeon to go to would be and can often get in a little quicker to see them.

Other Work In The Same Sector:

Nursing offers opportunities in so many specialities – too many to list.

What Professional Organisations Are Associated With Your Work:

Nursing and midwifery council. United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC).

Additional Info You Wish To Share:

Enter into nursing with an open mind. There are so many departments that you will not know even exist within healthcare and the training will give you a chance to experience them all.
Try, if you can, to gain healthcare experience before you commence training as this will stand you in good sted.

Where People Can Visit For More Details On Your Work:

https://www.nmc.org.uk/