Staff Nurse - Preoperative Assessment Unit

Transformationunitgm; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare trust in the UK is seeking a motivated Staff Nurse for the Preoperative Assessment Unit. The ideal candidate will assess patients for surgery and contribute to their smooth surgical journey. Strong communication skills and NMC registration are essential. This role offers a chance to be part of a significant transformation program and provides competitive benefits, including enhanced leave and NHS pension scheme. Join us in delivering high-quality patient care while enjoying the beautiful Dorset coast.

Benefits

Enhanced annual leave

NHS pension scheme

Health and wellbeing services

Qualifications

• At least 1 year of post-registration experience in an acute surgical or medical setting.
• Required skills include physical examination, venepuncture, and ECG recording.

Responsibilities

• Screen and assess patients for elective procedures.
• Order and evaluate diagnostic tests.
• Work with a multidisciplinary team to develop care plans.
• Mentor students and junior staff.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Physical examination skills

Clear understanding of pre-op assessment

Venepuncture

ECG recording

Education

Registration as RN or Operating Department Practitioner

Job description

Main area Surgical Grade Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday. Occasional weekends) Job ref 153-SU05394

Employer University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site University Hospitals Dorset - Town Dorset Salary £31,049 - £37,796 pa Salary period Yearly Closing 25/01/2026 23:59

Staff Nurse - Preoperative Assessment Unit

Band 5

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state‑of‑the‑art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity in the pre‑operative department, and we are looking for a motivated and dynamic team player to fill the position of Staff Nurse.

UHD at Poole is on its way to becoming one of the largest elective hospitals in the country, and our pre‑operative department is crucial in ensuring safe and effective patient care. We prioritise thorough assessments while optimising patients’ conditions to enhance the success of the surgery.

If you have strong communication skills and a passion for supporting patients throughout their surgical journey, we would love to welcome you to our friendly and dedicated team. There are numerous reasons to join UHD, including enhanced annual leave, enrolment in our generous NHS pension scheme, and access to health and wellbeing services.

We have two 28.5hr contracts available.

This role requires an active UK NMC Registration or HCPC Operating department practitioner registration

Base Location: Royal Bournemouth and Poole Hospital

Interview Date: TBA

Main duties of the job

• Screening and assessment of patients undergoing a variety of elective procedures through the collection of confidential and sensitive patient information.
• Order screening and diagnostic tests as per identified policies/protocols.
• Evaluate results of investigations and recognise abnormalities and refer to the appropriate health professional.
• Identify potential anaesthetic, medical and surgical problems and refer appropriately to relevant health care professionals.
• Carry out a range of diagnostic tests, often using highly developed physical skills, such as venepuncture.
• Work effectively and efficiently with the integrated multidisciplinary team to develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care.
• Assist in developing and maintaining a suitable and stimulating learning environment for student and for on‑going professional development of registered staff.
• Maintain a personal, professional profile, identifying role and skill developments, Supervise and mentor, & preceptor, students, junior registered and unqualified staff.
• Work with a degree of autonomy in an outpatient clinic setting, making complex decisions regarding plans of care.
• Manage own mandatory training compliance on VLE/Beat system.

Working for our organisation

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service‑specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, DEN, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registration practitioner either RN or Operating department practitioner with relevant qualification

Experience

• 1 year post registration experience in an acute surgical or medical setting
• Physical examination skills

Other

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including proven listening and communication skills
• Clear understanding of the role of pre‑op assessment in preparing patients for surgery and anaesthesia
• Venepuncture
• ECG recording

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.