Registered Nurse Associate - Pre-op Assessment

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a Registered Nurse Associate to join our Pre-Operative Assessment Team.

The Registered Nurse Associate role contributes significantly to the efficiency and safety of the pre-operative pathway through:

• Protocol-driven screening
• Structured patient education
• Effective communication and escalation
• Support for virtual and telephone pathways
• Facilitating patient optimisation through appropriate signposting

Under current Home Office Immigration Rules, this role does not meet the UK Visas and Immigration criteria and the position is not therefore eligible for skilled worker sponsorship. Applications from candidates that require skilled worker sponsorship will NOT be shortlisted. If you have continuously held a Skilled Worker visa since you got your certificate of sponsorship are extending or updating your visa and got your certificate of sponsorship before 22 July 2025 you may be eligible in line with currently published Home Office immigration Rules.

Main duties of the job

Health Screening Responsibilities

RNA responsibilities in the health screening element of the pathway may include:

• Reviewing completed pre-operative health questionnaires to determine the correct pre-operative pathway in accordance with existing protocols
• Undertaking protocol-driven investigations (e.g. ECGs, observations, venepuncture - HbA1c or haemoglobin, U+E, and MRSA screening
• Providing standardised patient education using approved information and evidence-based recommendations
• Offering lifestyle support and signposting to weight management, smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, and other appropriate services
• Documenting findings clearly within the electronic pre-assessment systems

Follow-Up and Communication

• Conduct protocol-based telephone follow-ups (e.g. BP diary review, medication adherence checks, clarification of questionnaire responses)
• Monitor progress in accordance with defined pathways
• Forward abnormal or concerning results to GPs with standardised wording or proformas
• Escalate concerns to the supervising RN, Nurse Practitioner, Surgeon, or Anaesthetist

Virtual Pre Operative Assessment

Contribute to virtual pre-operative assessments for low-risk and selected intermediate-risk patients where surgery is low complexity (e.g., local anaesthetic, minor/intermediate GA procedures)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will:  1.    Work at all times in accordance with the 6 platforms of NMC Code •    Being an accountable professional •    Promoting health and preventing ill health •    Provide and monitor care •    Working in teams •    Improving safety and quality of care •    Contributing to integrated care

• Be accountable for their own professional actions and those delegated to others. 3.    Provide and monitor care that is compassionate, safe and effective to people within the practice setting.  4.    Monitor the condition and health needs of people within their care on a continual basis in partnership with people, families, and carers.  5.    Contribute to ongoing assessment and recognise when it is necessary to refer to others for reassessment. 6.    Work in partnership with people, to encourage shared decision making, to support individuals, their families and carers to manage their own care when appropriate. 7.    Demonstrate the knowledge, skills and ability to perform a range of nursing procedures and manage devices, to meet people’s need for safe, effective and person-centred care (As per the NMC Standards of proficiency for registered Nursing Associates 2018) 8.    Demonstrate and apply an understanding of how and when to escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice.  9.    Demonstrate the ability to recognise when a person’s condition has improved or deteriorated by undertaking health monitoring. Interpret, promptly respond, share findings, and escalate as needed. 10.    Achieve and maintain competence in identified mandatory and statutory training; develop and maintain clinical competencies, skills and knowledge which relate to the area of clinical practice (i.e., venepuncture, cannulation, ECG, urethral catheterisation care and any other relevant duties).  11.    Administer medications as described by local policy and in line with the NMC’s standards for medicines management. 12.    Administer medication; oral, topical, inhaled, subcutaneous, intra- muscular, PR and enteral feeding tube. 13.    On completion of additional Local training and achievement of competencies, will administer and provide a second safety check for Controlled Drugs (as per Trust policy) and Intravenous infusions. 14.    Respond to patients, relatives and carers concerns as they arise and take remedial action as required. 15.    Assume responsibility for undertaking tasks delegated by the nominated line / shift coordinator. This may include representing the ward at meetings, link nurse responsibilities, audit, clinical governance initiatives and supervision and role competency assessments for unregistered staff and students.  16.    Contribute to the development of service and quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient experience and outcome and ensure standards of care are monitored and maintained within the organisation.  17.    Delegate appropriately to unregistered staff and students.  18.    Communicate condition related information to patients, designated relatives/carers.  19.    Assist with the induction and orientation and subsequent development of junior staff within the ward or department.  20.    Maintain accurate nursing records ensuring all documentation is completed accurately and promptly.  21.    Adhere to organisational policies and procedures.  22.    In accordance with individual patient care, and utilising appropriate computer software and/or monitoring equipment, daily undertake and record patient’s observations.  23.    Undertake if not already done so the Preceptorship program supported by The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.