Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
Junior Sister Pre Operative Assessment
The closing date is 28 May 2026
The Pre‑Operative Assessment unit looks after all patients having surgery and surgical procedures within the RUH catchment seeing approximately 1400 patients a month.
The role of the Junior Sister is to provide an advanced level of assessment and clinical examination to patients assessed as requiring this level of assessment by the nurse practitioner or colleagues. The Junior Sister is able to refer and facilitate further investigation of such patients.
The unit liaises closely with clinicians, anaesthetists and all members of the multidisciplinary team and surgical division.
Main duties of the job
In this role you will assess, plan and deliver clinical care appropriate to the needs of the Pre‑operative Assessment patient group and, following discussion and agreement from the manager and the multidisciplinary team, develop policy and procedure to support the role.
You will need to adapt and take an innovative approach to incorporate new/emerging therapies and developments within the service and to discuss with the unit manager, and agree any development of skill required of the service.
You will plan and deliver programmes to address patients’ complex and changing health needs so that these patients are optimised for their surgery or surgical procedure.
To monitor and maintain health, safety and security of yourself and others in your own area of work and report any issues to the unit manager.
As Junior Sister you will provide nursing advice for patients, relatives and nursing staff within the specialist area during initial assessment after any additional tests and at final determination of fitness status.
To assist the unit manager in maintaining and developing nurse‑led services, where appropriate and when in the best interest of the patient and carers, providing specialist clinical knowledge.
To provide information to the patients, relatives and caregivers about the treatment options and programmes, assessments, investigations, surgery, follow‑up.
Job responsibilities
* Adapt an innovative approach to incorporate new/emerging therapies and developments within the service and discuss with the unit manager and agree any development of skill required of the service.
* Assess patients’ health & well‑being needs when those needs are complex and change across the caseload.
* Plan and deliver programmes to address patients’ complex and changing health needs so that these patients are optimised for their surgery or surgical procedure.
* Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of yourself and others in your own area of work and report any issues to the unit manager.
* Contribute to the clinical governance agenda within Trust and the specialist field.
* Discuss suggestions for developing and improving services offered with the unit manager and act on these as agreed.
* Provide nursing advice for patients, relatives and nursing staff within the specialist area during initial assessment after any additional tests and at final determination of fitness status.
* Assist the unit manager in maintaining and developing nurse‑led services where appropriate and when in the best interest of the patient and carers, providing specialist clinical knowledge.
* Facilitate the provision of multidisciplinary care for patients within the specialist area.
* Lead on setting, implementing, reviewing and updating service policies, procedures and protocols.
* Provide information to patients, relatives and caregivers about treatment options and programmes, assessments, investigations, surgery, follow‑up.
* Work in partnership with nurses and other health professionals to address patients’ health needs through planning and delivering interventions based on best practice and clinical judgement.
* Empower and support health care professionals to provide appropriate care for patients in the setting most appropriate for patients and their carers.
* Advise patients and family about medical and surgical aspects of the treatment and daily life implications.
* Work with relevant bodies to develop and update written information for patients and health care professionals.
* Work closely with other Nurse Specialists and Practice development in development of practice and services.
* Monitor health, safety and security of self and others in own work area through ensuring knowledge of appropriate national/local policies and procedures.
* Ensure knowledge of appropriate NMC standards and Trust professional guidelines and apply them to practice.
* Promote equity, diversity and rights through ensuring practice is in the best interests of patients.
* Plan and deliver research/evidence‑based care and treatment in partnership with other health professionals.
* Delegate or refer to other practitioners when this will improve health outcomes or when risks and needs are beyond own competence and scope of practice.
* Support patients in the delivery of care through maintaining their information needs, promoting their wishes and beliefs, and addressing their concerns.
* Support patients in meeting their own health and well‑being through the provision of appropriate information, advice and support.
* Monitor and review the effectiveness of interventions with the patient, relatives and carers to ensure patients are optimised for surgery and timely decisions regarding fitness status are made and modify this to meet changing needs and goals of care.
Person specification
Qualification and training
* Has the training and experience to undertake specific Pre‑operative role and has achieved competencies.
* Post‑registration qualifications in areas relevant to the service – PACR, Nursing degree, evidence of further study.
Knowledge and experience
* Broad range of clinical experience and a minimum of 3 years of working in a relevant clinical speciality or related area.
* Evidence of work in this area and demonstrates an understanding of the role based on their experience.
Knowledge and Experience (Computer)
* Basic knowledge of using MS Windows Office applications and Excel.
* Can demonstrate this with the quality of their application and supporting evidence of courses in this area or qualifications.
Specific Skills
* Participated in service development and implementation of change.
* Evidence of this on the application and able to discuss coherently and knowledgeably at interview.
* Written evidence of this and able to discuss at interview.
* Strong organisational skills – Able to organise own workload to ensure completion in the most efficient and effective way.
* Able to provide examples at interview and on application.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
Depending on experience – per annum, pro rata
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