Recovery staff Nurse Whittington Health NHS Trust openings 2025

Job Overview

The post holder will help plan and organise the daily work in the recovery area for patients after surgery. They will care for patients as they recover, giving safe and personalised nursing care based on the best evidence.

They will make sure the quality of care meets the department’s standards and will be responsible for checking, witnessing, and giving controlled drugs safely. The post holder will take part in the care of patients after anaesthesia and surgery and must know how to use all medical equipment safely and correctly.

Working for our organisation

Whittington Health cares for a diverse community and works hard to make sure our services are fair and accessible to everyone. We show the same care and respect to our staff.

We aim to have a workforce that reflects the variety of people we serve. We value differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief.

As a public organisation, we believe it is our duty to make sure our recruitment, training, and promotion processes are fair and respectful of these differences. By doing this, we provide better care for our patients and create a supportive, inclusive workplace for our staff.

Education / Qualifications

Must have:

• You need to be a registered nurse (RGN/RN) or an Operating Department Practitioner with a diploma or degree.
  
  

• You must be officially registered with the NMC (the nursing regulator in the UK).
  
  

Nice to have:

• A teaching qualification like ENB 998 or something similar.
  
  

• Some recent experience working in hospital theatres helping patients wake up after surgery (recovery work).
  
  

Skills & Abilities

Must be able to:

• Work on your own without someone watching all the time.
  
  

• Work well with other people as part of a team.
  
  

• Help and guide students or new staff.
  
  

• Speak and write clearly so others understand you.
  
  

• Decide what to do first when things get busy (good prioritising).
  
  

• Be skilled in using medical equipment and handling patients safely.
  
  

• Have some experience working in hospital theatres.
  
  

• Understand how different types of surgeries work.
  
  

Knowledge & Experience

Must know about:

• Different kinds of surgeries and how they are done.
  
  

• Safety rules for handling chemicals (COSHH).
  
  

• Health and safety laws in hospitals.
  
  

• The NMC rules nurses must follow.
  
  

• Treating everyone fairly (Equal Opportunities).
  
  

• Keeping patient information private (Data Protection).
  
  

• How to prevent infections.
  
  

• The latest nursing research and theatre practices.
  
  

• What each theatre team member’s job is.
  
  

• How to keep learning and improving (Continuing Professional Development).
  
  

• How to check and improve work quality (audit process).