Peri-operative nurse

Job Description

Job Title:

Peri-operative nurse

Department

Clinical Services

Grade:

Location

Burera District

Reports to

HoD Clinical Services

Positions reporting to:

N/A

Main Responsibilities

1

Job Purpose

The Perioperative Nurse provides safe, high-quality, evidence-based nursing care to patients undergoing surgical and invasive procedures. Working within a multidisciplinary surgical team, the nurse is responsible for preoperative assessment and preparation, intraoperative patient advocacy and support, and postoperative monitoring and care. The position also contributes to clinical teaching, mentorship of nursing staff and students, and continuous quality improvement to ensure patient safety and adherence to perioperative standards and protocols.

2

Specific Responsibilities:

Clinical nursing care

• Develop, implement, and evaluate perioperative nursing care plans in collaboration with the surgical and multidisciplinary team across preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases.

• Conduct comprehensive preoperative patient assessments and ensure readiness for surgery, including verification of consent, investigations, and safety checklists.

• Monitor patients’ vital signs and intraoperative parameters, responding promptly to changes in condition and escalating concerns to the surgical or anesthesia team.

• Assist surgeons, anesthetists, and other healthcare providers during surgical procedures, ensuring aseptic technique and patient safety in the operating theatre.

• Provide safe and effective postoperative nursing care, including pain management, wound care, drain management, and early detection of surgical complications.

• Educate patients and families on perioperative processes, surgical procedures, recovery expectations, and post-discharge care instructions.

• Ensure accurate, timely, and complete perioperative documentation, including surgical safety checklists and intraoperative records, in line with hospital standards and protocols.

Patient Safety & Quality Improvement

• Participate in perioperative adverse event reporting and root cause analysis processes in compliance with hospital patient safety and surgical quality standards.

• Contribute to operating theatre continuous quality improvement initiatives, including surgical audits, infection prevention reviews, and perioperative outcome monitoring.

• Adhere to Rwanda Hospital Accreditation Standards and support operating theatre preparedness for accreditation assessments and surgical safety compliance.

• Ensure proper use, sterilization, maintenance, and inventory management of surgical instruments, anesthesia equipment, and theatre supplies; report any deficiencies to the theatre in charge.

• Report surgical incidents, adverse events, and near misses promptly in line with hospital policies and perioperative safety reporting systems.

Teaching, Mentorship & Professional Development

• Mentor and support orientationf of new staff and students during clinical rotations on the ward.

• Participate in ward-based in-service training, case presentations, and nursing grand rounds.