POSITION SUMMARYIn this nursing role, you will prepare the operating room for the patient, Anaesthetist and Surgical team.. It is theduty of the Anaesthetic nurse to assist the surgical team by connecting equipment and circulating. It is essential tomaintain a high standard of nursing care. The role should be carried out in professional manner and inaccordance with St James Hospital protocols and consultants preferences.KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES The tasks of the Theatre Anaesthetic Nurse involves making sure all necessary equipment is available forsurgical procedures prior to surgery and also to ensure the theatre and its areas are maintained to therequired standard before, during and after surgery. It is imperative that a sterile environment ismaintained at all times. Other responsibilities include ensuring adequate levels of stock are maintained within theatre and tocomplete all swab checks and instrument checks in accordance with the company policy. Enforcing World Health Organisation’s ‘Safe Surgical Checklist’ will be expected. Providing a clear and concise pre/post operation handover from Ward/Recovery Nurse is expected toensure a smooth transition for the patient and also ensuring medical staff orders are correctly interpretedand carried out.

Nurses care for people who are sick, injured, convalescent or disabled. Nurses deliver individualised care topatients utilising the nursing processes of assessment, planning, intervention, implementation and evaluation, inaccordance with established nursing practice, ethics and Saint James Hospital Policies. Nurses need to monitorpatients, administer medication, maintain records, consult with healthcare providers, and also educate patients.Nurses collaborate with other professional healthcare disciplines to ensure safe and effective patient care deliveryand achievement of the desired patient outcomes. Nurses need to interact with the patient, relatives and themultidisciplinary team whilst maintaining a high standard of professional nursing. Saint James Hospital Nursesprovide care for adult medical and surgical patients, and also to paediatric patients with medical and/or surgicalailments.KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROVIDE A HIGH STANDARD OF NURSING CARE Provide bedside care for a wide variety of medical patients, including pre- and post-surgery patients. Consult and coordinate with the health care team to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care. Assess, implement, plan and evaluate nursing care plans by working collaboratively in a multidisciplinaryteam. Record and maintain accurate and complete health care records including vital signs and medicalinformation. Monitor, report and record symptoms or changes in the patients’ condition. Prepare and administer medications as prescribed and record all entries of medication administrationaccurately. Report any suspected adverse drug reaction immediately to the medical team and pharmacist. Initiate and provide education accordingly to patients and relatives on how to manage their illness/surgeryand emphasising on home care needs. Accompany specialists during ward rounds and ensure that changes in patient care are communicated tocolleagues.

The Recovery Room Nurse is the primary patient advocate following surgery. This nurse monitors patients whenthey are still under the effects of anaesthesia. Recovery room nurses must be registered nurses who have beenextensively trained in critical care. It is essential that a high standard of nursing care is maintained. The role shouldbe carried out in professional manner and in accordance with Saint James Hospital policies and protocols.KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:• Providing constant care to patients immediately following surgery. This may be a time frame anywherefrom 30 minutes to a few hours, until the patient is stable enough either to be transported to his hospitalroom or discharged from the facility.• Connecting the patient to devices such as cardiac monitoring equipment, and to intravenous therapy forfluids and pain medication.• Monitoring patients’ vital signs, such as Blood pressure, pulse, RR, temperature; administration of oxygensuctioning.• Monitoring patients for bleeding, pain management to assess patients’ comfort level.• Observing patients to assess their comfort level, asking patients about their level of pain, andadministering pain medications that have been prescribed.• Administration of intravenous, IM, subcutaneous, PCA and epidural therapy.• Transferring verbal and written information about the patient to the ward nurse responsible for the patient.• Maintaining and providing necessary documentation, as appropriate.• Rapidly reacting to signs of negative physical changes, calling for assistance and beginningcardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary. Acting in a clear headed and knowledgeable way during anemergency.OTHER REQUIREMENTS• Must communicate effectively with patients of different ages and backgrounds.• Possess excellent observation skills, be able to think critically, and be able to make quick and effectivedecisions.• Must be registered with the Malta Council for Nurses and Midwives.