Staff Nurse, Pre-operative Assessment

Job overview

The pre-assessment team at Ashford & St. Peters Hospitals Foundation Trust are recruiting. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our team of experienced Pre-operative assessment at this exciting time, as we support the expansion theatres at Ashford Hospital.

The role involves face to face or telephone assessment prior to patients’ anticipated elective general or orthopaedic surgery to ensure that they are adequately prepared and fit for their operation to proceed safely. You will be working in a nurse led team liaising closely with our anaesthetic colleagues following local and national guidelines for pre- operative management of both day case and in patient procedures.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will

• Assess pre operatively elective surgical patients for inpatient and day case procedures
• To work closely with the nursing and anaesthetic lead for pre-operative assessment services; ensuring a high quality, safe pre-assessment service
• The purpose of this post is to positively impact the early stages of the patient’s surgical pathway; managing, coordinating and implementing elective pre-operative assessment for all surgical specialities across the Trust.
• Attainment of the 18-weeks pathway and local policy implementation; improving efficiency and productivity, delivering a same day service; ensuring patients are seen early in their 18 weeks pathway to be optimised for anaesthesia/surgery

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Whilst working as part of the pre assessment team, you will be seeing patients allocated to clinic list.

A successful candidate should be able to provide a welcoming environment, ensuring effective time management and prioritisation whilst managing their individual clinic caseload.

Assessment of patient’s for anaesthesia may be completed face to face or by telephone. This includes completing electronic forms requesting appropriate investigations instigating referrals and giving all necessary information to patients.

Effective communication with colleagues in many departments is essential to ensure the smooth running of the service and to facilitate patients being  able to have surgery as planned   The successful candidate will have -

• Demonstrable post-registration experience, minimum of 1 year within surgical and/or pre-operative assessment setting
• Ability to carry out pre-operative assessment of defined patient caseload (with appropriate training and support)
• Ability to utilise critical decision-making and implement programmes of care within pre-operative assessment

We are currently working from the Ashford site, Monday to Friday however cross site and weekend working may be required in the future.