Surgical care practitioner
Surgical care practitioners are members of the surgery team within the NHS. You'll support surgeons and other healthcare professionals before, during and after surgical procedures.
You'll work in an operating theatre, on wards and in clinics. You'll be trained to undertake some surgical procedures under appropriate supervision.
Working life
You'll be a healthcare professional, such as a theatre nurse [1]or operating department practitioner, [2] who has received further training. You'll be trained to undertake a range of tasks in surgery under the direct supervision of surgeon including:
- managing clinics where you would see patients before surgery including ensuring they are placed on surgery lists
- assessing patients to ensure they are clinically fit and healthy for the surgery
- preparing patients for surgery including venepuncture and catheterisation
- surgical procedures under direct supervision of a surgeon such as wound closure, harvesting veins [3] and carpel tunnel surgery,
- supporting a supervising surgeon as as a first or second assistant
- daily ward rounds, making assessments and formulating plans for patients’ post-operative care
- writing of operation notes and ward round note taking
- care after the surgery eg wound assessment, treatment and identification of surgical problems and complications
- provision of support to on-call and emergency services
- evaluating a patient's condition, including the discharge process and follow-up care arrangements
- training of trainee surgeons
- prescribing appropriate medications
Sara Dalby
Surgical care practitioner
This is an exceptionally rewarding role. It’s allowed me to develop professionally
Pay and benefits
You'll work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. While training, you'll be paid at band 6 of NHS terms and conditions [5] and at band 7 after qualifying. You'll be able to work flexibily which may mean working evenings, nights and weekends.
Entry requirements
Universities will decide on their own specific academic requirements but the minimum entry requirements to a recognised training programme are:
- evidence of an ability to study at Level 7 or above eg at Master’s level
- qualified and registered healthcare professional eg nurse or operating department practitioner
- evidence of at least 18 months post registration experience
Accreditation of prior experiential learning will be dependent upon the local Higher Education Institution requirements.
Must-have skills
- commitment to patient care and patient safety
- understanding of a multidisciplinary team especially with respect to the changing role of surgery
- recognition of the role and responsibilities of being a trainee surgical care practitioner
- understanding of the training programme
- an aptitude for both clinical and operative practice
- recognition that educational as well as clinical development will be required.
Where the role can lead
After completing your training, you'll be expecting to maintain and extend your knowledge, skills and competence as defined by the Royal College of Surgeons. [6] You can also join a managed voluntary register [7] to demonstrate you're appropriately qualified and working to the standards expected by the Royal College.
It's a dynamic speciality with several areas that the role can expand and extend into. With further training and/or experience, you may be able to apply for roles in specialist surgical teams, clinical management or make the move into education or research.
Other roles that may interest you
- Operating department practitioner [2]
- Theatre nurse [1]
- Theatre support worker [16]
- General surgery [17]
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