As a Major Ortho Scrub Nurse, you are the backbone of the orthopedic surgical team. Your primary responsibility is to maintain a sterile environment while anticipating the surgeon's needs during complex bone and joint procedures. Long before the patient enters the operating room, your work begins. You meticulously prepare the surgical suite, ensuring all specialized orthopedic instruments, implants, and power tools are sterile and functioning perfectly.
Once the surgery starts, your focus must be absolute. You scrub in, don your sterile gown, and arrange your instrument table with high precision. Orthopedic surgeries move quickly and require a vast array of tools, from retractors and bone saws to specialized plates and screws. You do not just hand over tools; you anticipate each step of the procedure. When the surgeon requires a specific implant, you have it ready instantly, ensuring the operation flows smoothly without delays.
Patient safety depends heavily on your vigilance. You are responsible for maintaining the sterile field to prevent deep bone infections, which can be devastating for patients. You also manage the meticulous counting of surgical sponges, needles, and instruments before, during, and after the procedure. This ensures nothing is accidentally left inside the patient.
Your role also demands excellent communication and physical stamina. You work closely with the circulating nurse, anesthesiologist, and surgical team to manage the room's dynamics. Because orthopedic procedures can last for hours and involve heavy equipment, your physical endurance and mental sharpness are tested daily.
Ultimately, your expertise directly impacts the patient's recovery. By keeping the surgical field safe and efficient, you help restore the patient's mobility and improve their quality of life. It is a demanding, fast-paced career, but knowing you helped someone walk again makes it deeply rewarding.
Essential
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
We are committed to your wellbeing, professional growth, and long-term career success. Joining our team means becoming part of a values-led organisation that invests in you — not just as an employee, but as a professional and an individual.
With us, you will benefit from:
Our people choose to build their careers here because they feel supported, appreciated, and proud to be part of something that makes a genuine difference.
All applicants will be taken through onboarding checks including:
