The Peri-Operative Unit at Canberra Hospital consists of a Day of Surgery Admissions (DOSA) Unit, 24 Operating Theatres covering a wide range of surgical specialities, Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU) and a 12 bed Extended Day Surgery Unit (EDSU) together with several out of areas procedural/invasive specialty areas.

Our Specialties include Orthopaedics, Orthopaedic Trauma, Multi Trauma, Obstetrics, Gynaecological, ENT, Head and Neck, Plastics, Vascular, Endovascular, Neurosurgery, Cardiothoracic, General Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Ophthalmic and Maxillofacial Surgery. The Canberra Hospital Operating Suits services all high level surgical procedures within the area, including referrals from surrounding regions. Our Nurses are dynamic skilled professionals who are responsible for the provision of patient centred evidence-based nursing care for Every Patient. Our nursing team works within a multidisciplinary healthcare team supported by Perioperative Education Team, Nurse Unit Managers, and the Clinical Nurse Consultant.

Anaesthetics

The Registered Nurse Level 1 Anaesthetic Nurse is responsible for providing nursing care to patients undergoing anaesthesia within the perioperative environment. The role includes pre-operative patient assessment, preparation and assisting the Anaesthetist in the safe administration of anaesthesia. Working collaboratively with Anaesthetists and the multidisciplinary team, Anaesthetic Nurses monitor patients throughout the perioperative period, recognise and respond to changes in clinical condition, and contribute to safe, high-quality care across a broad range of surgical specialties. This role is undertaken in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment and requires sound clinical judgement, attention to detail, effective communication skills, and the ability to prioritise competing demands. Nurses are supported to develop specialist knowledge and skills in anaesthetic nursing, advanced patient monitoring, airway management, and emergency response.

Scrub

The Registered Nurse Level 1 in Scrub/Scout Nursing plays an integral role in supporting patients throughout surgical procedures by preparing the operating theatre, maintaining a strict sterile environment, and assisting the surgical team to ensure safe and efficient surgical care. This role involves anticipating procedural requirements, effectively managing and handling surgical instruments and equipment, performing accurate surgical counts, and adhering to infection control and patient safety standards at all times. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the nurse demonstrates strong communication skills, situational awareness, and the ability to remain calm and responsive under pressure. The position requires adaptability to the demands of a fast-paced perioperative environment, a commitment to continuous learning, and a patient-centred approach to care, ensuring optimal outcomes before, during, and after surgery.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.

Under the direction of the Clinical Nurse Consultant and Clinical Development Nurses, you will need to perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Be responsible for the provision of comprehensive, high-quality care to patients utilising the principles of fair access and equity, patient participation, health promotion and prevention.
• Demonstrate Competence to perform the role as per ACORN standards and Organisational policy and guidelines.
• Communicate effectively with patients and colleagues utilising well developed verbal, written and technological skills.
• Maintain and promote safe clinical practice and adhere to Aseptic Technique, Infection Control principles and practices.
• Collaborate with surgical team to ensure that all instruments, accountable items, and other items used during surgery/procedures are retrieved, accounted for, and appropriately documented.
• Manage the instruments and associated sterile items, accountable items, assist the surgeons with access to instruments and supplies required to undertake the surgical procedure.
• Recognise intraoperative complications or changes in patient’s condition and responding appropriately.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.

Essential

• Tertiary Qualification or related qualification in nursing
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Desirable

• Graduate certificate of perioperative nursing
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.

Essential

• One year work experience in nursing.

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances.

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy

All employees are required to:

• adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct
• act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
• Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.
• Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work.

CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Demonstrated clinical knowledge and experience in the implementation of high-quality clinical care utilising the nursing process.
2. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues utilising well-developed (clear, concise, and accurate) verbal, written and interpersonal skills.
3. Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development through participation in education and training activities relevant to the field of clinical practice.
4. Demonstrated organisational skills and problem-solving abilities to ensure effective, efficient, and appropriate decision making when planning and implementing health care.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.

Administrative	Frequency
Telephone use	Frequently
General computer use	Frequently
Extensive keying/data entry	Frequently
Graphical/analytical based	Occasionally
Sitting at a desk	Occasionally
Standing for long periods	Frequently

Travel	Frequency
Frequent travel – multiple work sites	Never
Frequent travel – driving	Never

Physical demands	Frequency
Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit)	Frequently
Working outdoors	Never

Psychosocial demands	Frequency
Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations	Occasionally
Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness	Occasionally
Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries	Occasionally
Restraining e.g. involvement in physical containment of clients/consumers	Never
Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide	Never

Specific hazards	Frequency
Working at heights	Never
Exposure to extreme temperatures	Never
Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift	Never
Confined spaces	Never
Excessive noise	Never
Low lighting	Occasionally
Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological.	Frequently
Slippery or uneven surfaces	Occasionally

Manual handling	Frequency
Lifting 0 – 9kg	Frequently
Lifting 10 – 15kg	Occasionally
Lifting 16kg+	Never
Climbing	Never
Running	Never
Reaching	Occasionally
Kneeling	Occasionally
Foot and leg movement	Frequently
Hand, arm and grasping movements	Frequently
Bending/squatting	Frequently
Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting	Frequently
Push/pull	Frequently
Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time	Occasionally