Operating Theatre Nurse

As an Operating Theatre Nurse you work as a vital member of the perioperative team, caring for patients before, during, and after surgical procedures in a hospital theatre environment. You may work in a scrub nurse role, directly assisting the surgeon by passing instruments and maintaining a sterile field, or as a circulating nurse who coordinates the wider theatre environment, manages equipment, and ensures patient safety throughout the operation. You collaborate closely with surgeons, anaesthetists, anaesthetic nurses, healthcare assistants, and theatre porters to deliver safe, high-quality surgical care. You also monitor patients' physiological status during procedures, maintain accurate documentation, and adhere strictly to infection prevention and control protocols. Your work spans a wide range of surgical specialties including orthopaedics, cardiothoracic, general surgery, obstetrics, and neurosurgery.

To become an Operating Theatre Nurse in Ireland you must first qualify as a registered general nurse, which requires completing an NFQ Level 8 Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing through the CAO system at institutions such as UCD, TCD, UCC, University of Galway, DCU, UL, or RCSI, with science subjects such as Biology and Chemistry at Leaving Certificate level being highly advantageous. Following registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) as a general nurse, you then pursue perioperative specialist training. Most Operating Theatre Nurses in Ireland complete an NFQ Level 9 Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Science in Perioperative Nursing, offered by universities including UCD and UCC, often while working in a theatre setting. Some nurses enter theatre roles through clinical experience and in-service training programmes provided by the HSE or private hospital groups, before formalising their specialist skills at postgraduate level. Maintaining active NMBI registration and engaging in ongoing continuing professional development (CPD) is a professional and regulatory requirement throughout your career.