Assistant Director of Nursing (Operating Theatre)

Job description

Assistant Director of Nursing (Operating Theatre) Dublin South

Full-Time 39 Hours per week

Department: Perioperative Services / Operating Theatre

Job Purpose

The Assistant Director of Nursing (Operating Theatre) is responsible for the leadership, management, and development of nursing services within the operating theatre department. The post holder will ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care in line with best practice, regulatory requirements, and hospital policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic clinical and professional nursing leadership for the Operating Theatre Department (7 theatres) and CSSD, as part of the Senior Nursing Management Team, contributing to the achievement of organisational and operational performance targets.
• Work collaboratively with Consultants, scheduling teams, and multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure effective planning and delivery of theatre lists, balancing elective and emergency demand.
• Support Clinical Nurse Managers (CNMs) and Theatre/CSSD teams in service delivery and development.
• Liaise regularly with the Director of Nursing & Transformation, providing updates on performance, risks, and operational issues.
• Lead the annual review of perioperative and CSSD services, including performance analysis and strategic recommendations.

Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures, ensuring compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and organisational standards.

• Actively participate in the operational management of theatre services, ensuring efficient, safe, and high-quality patient care across all areas.
• Contribute to the strategic development of the service plan, monitoring operational activity against agreed objectives and performance targets.
• Actively participate in projects, committees, and organisational initiatives, representing senior nursing leadership and contributing to service strategy and innovation
• Contribute to financial planning, including budgeting, cost control, and optimisation of theatre resources.
• Engage with key stakeholders to ensure clinical and operational alignment with organisational objectives.
• Assess and identify clinical learning needs of staff, aligning them with service priorities, and communicate recommendations to the Assistant Director of Nursing and Practice Development.
• Collaborate with the Education and Practice development team to design, implement, and evaluate induction, in-service, and professional development programs that meet service needs and promote excellence.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, statutory, and professional standards, including HIQA and JCI accreditation requirements, within the Operating Theatre Department.
• Develop, implement, and regularly review policies, procedures, and clinical guidelines, ensuring they reflect current standards and best practice.
• Establish and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) focused on theatre performance, including utilisation, efficiency, on-time starts, turnaround times, cancellations, and patient outcomes.
• Ensure regular risk assessments are completed for all theatre processes, equipment, and clinical practices, with clear documentation and follow-up actions.
• Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and safety protocols.

Essential

Be registered, or be eligible for registration, in the General Nurse Division, and other divisions as relevant to the specific service, of the Register of Nurses and Midwives, as appropriate, maintained by the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)

Have 7 years post registration nursing experience and 3 years nursing management experience at a minimum of Clinical Nurse Manager 2 (CNM2) in an acute setting. 2 of which in an Operating Department

Have successfully completed a post registration programme of study, as certified by the education provider, which verifies that the applicant has achieved a National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) major academic Level 8 or higher award maintained by Quality & Qualifications of Ireland (QQI)

Or

Can provide written evidence from the Higher Education Institute that they have achieved the number of ECTS credits equivalent to a Level 8 or higher standard in a health care or management related area

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Onsite parking
• Pension
• Annual bonus
• Discounted café
• Sports and Social club
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounted onsite pharmacy