Description:
🎯 Purpose of the Role
The Registered Nurse with Cardiothoracic Experience provides specialized perioperative and post-operative care to patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. The role ensures safe, evidence-based nursing practice in operating theatres, intensive care units, and recovery wards, while supporting surgeons and multidisciplinary teams in delivering high-quality patient outcomes.
🩺 Key Responsibilities
• Clinical Care
• Assist surgeons during cardiothoracic procedures (open-heart, thoracic, vascular).
• Provide pre-operative and post-operative patient education and support.
• Monitor patients in cardiothoracic ICU, including ventilators, hemodynamics, and chest drains.
• Ensure strict adherence to infection control and surgical safety protocols.
• Team Collaboration
• Work closely with anaesthetists, surgeons, and allied health professionals.
• Support theatre staff in preparing and maintaining sterile environments.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case reviews and patient handovers.
• Operational Support
• Manage theatre equipment and consumables specific to cardiothoracic procedures.
• Assist in scheduling and coordinating cardiothoracic surgeries.
• Contribute to audits, risk assessments, and quality improvement initiatives.
Requirements:
📋 Qualifications & Experience
• Registered Nurse (RN) with valid registration at the South African Nursing Council (SANC).
• Post-basic qualification in Operating Theatre Nursing or Critical Care Nursing.
• Minimum 2–3 years’ experience in cardiothoracic nursing (theatre or ICU).
• Trauma or advanced life support training (advantageous).
💡 Skills & Competencies
• Strong knowledge of cardiothoracic surgical procedures and patient management.
• Ability to work under pressure in high-acuity environments.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Attention to detail and commitment to patient safety.
• Adaptability to dynamic surgical and critical care settings.