Job Description

Are you looking for a new exciting challenge in your career? Does the idea of supportive learning whilst working appeal to you? Do you enjoy high dependency nursing and individualised care? Do you enjoy acute and advanced pain management? Then Gloucester Post Anaesthetic Care Unit is the place for you.



We are a large post anaesthetic care unit that provides a 24/7 service caring for a wide range of specialties both in day case and major surgery. We recover Elective & Emergency surgery and cover Emergency surgery care out of hours on this site. We cover many disciplines from, Obstetrics, Vascular, Upper and lower GI, Robotic surgery, Gynaecology, Head & Neck, Trauma & Spinal surgery in Adults and Paediatrics. We also care for the level 2 high dependency surgical patients prior to admission to Critical Care. We specialize in Advanced airway skills, detailed A to E assessments and provide emotional support to patients regaining consciousness.



On average our patient throughput may be 40 - 60 patients a day and every day is different. An exciting opportunity has arisen for us in Theatres and we have been fortunate enough to receive additional funding to staff our Obstetric department 24 hours a day. Therefore, if you have a specific interest in post anaesthetic care and maternity services then this really is the post for you. We work a range of differing shifts mainly 10 hours long although we have now introduced long days too where applicable.

The Knowledge, Skills and experience required are:

Practitioner registered with the NMC or HCPC Basic IT skills. Enhanced levels of dexterity and accuracy pertaining to clinical skills. Act as a resource for all staff disseminating clinical skills and knowledge. Ensure personal and professional development is progressed through Individual Performance Development Review and PREP guidelines. Basic Resuscitation skills and the knowledge to initiate appropriate action in a clinical emergency. Basic airway management skills. Knowledge of safe checking-in procedure and informed consent. Safe administration of intravenous drugs and the preparation and programming of PCA and epidural pumps. The ability and knowledge of preparing and using relevant technical equipment e.g. invasive monitoring. High levels of concentration are required in this critical care environment. You will be required to work all shift patterns which are required to suit the needs of the service. Caring for high dependency patients with inotropic infusions for major surgery

With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one of our innovative hospitals. As well as generous annual leave allowance, access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.



We are a large multi-cultural, diverse team that works well together. We work very closely with the theatre team as communication is crucial between ourselves and the 16 Theatres for us to maintain theatre efficiency. We also work closely with our anaesthetic and surgical teams across the many specialties we care for. In turn we are medically well supported throughout the 24 hour period.

We are looking for Nurse/ODP/RSCN's that are able to:

Assess, plan, implement, evaluate and provide high quality nursing care in a 24-hour unit. Provide primary and advanced Airway management and to follow the A, B, C, D, E assessment of each patient. Work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team, working with consultant surgeons and anaesthetists. Manage a caseload of patients within a defined clinical area Provide support to the senior members of staff in the management and supervision of the defined clinical area. Provide appropriate pain management at the point of need. To provide accurate and detailed record keeping Good IT skills Commitment to undertake the clinical and academic training required to complete the programme

You will care for day case pathway patients who would require rapid assessments and treatments for acute pain in keeping with theatre efficiency.



Throughout your development you will be required to care for patients who need extended high dependency care to level 2 patients. They would require inotropic support; close invasive monitoring, CVC care and non- invasive ventilations.