PROFESSIONAL NURSE GRADE 1 TO 2 (SPECIALTY NURSING: OPERATING THEATRE)

This position offers an opportunity for a registered professional nurse with specialised training in operating theatre nursing to join the Metro Health Services team at the Hope Street Dental Community Dental Centre, located within the Southern/Western Sub-structure Office. The role is a specialty nursing post, graded at Professional Nurse Level 1 or 2, and sits within the broader public health ecosystem of the Western Cape Department of Health. As part of this ecosystem, the successful candidate should expect to provide clinical services not only at the Hope Street facility but also across other institutions within the service platform, as required to sustain health service delivery. The work is centred on peri-operative nursing within a dental setting, combining specialised theatre care with a strong focus on quality dental service provision, patient safety, and holistic nursing practice.

Applicants must hold a basic R425 qualification in nursing, or an equivalent R683 qualification, that permits registration with the South African Nursing Council as a Professional Nurse. In addition, candidates need either a one-year, SANC-accredited post-basic qualification in Medical and Surgical Nursing Science: Operating Theatre, or a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing (R174) or equivalent, supplemented by a postgraduate diploma in Peri-operative Nursing (R635). Registration with the SANC as a Professional Nurse is essential. For appointment at Grade 1, a minimum of four years of appropriate nursing experience after registration in General Nursing is required. For Grade 2, the requirement is at least fourteen years of relevant nursing experience, of which ten years must have been gained in an Operating Theatre Unit after obtaining the relevant post-basic or postgraduate qualification. There is also a concession for first-time applicants who do not yet have the stipulated registration: they may apply, provided they submit proof of application for registration and payment of the prescribed fees to the SANC on or before the day of the interview.

The duties of the post are broad and demanding. The professional nurse will provide optimal, holistic, specialised nursing care within a professional and legal framework in the operating theatre and recovery room. This includes delivering a quality dental service, assisting the dentist during surgical procedures, and carrying small children where necessary. The role also involves periodic supervision and support of human resources, effective supply chain, asset and data management, participation in training and oral health promotion activities, and supporting outreach services. The nurse must practice in accordance with all laws and regulations relevant to nursing and healthcare, and demonstrate knowledge of the legislation and policies of the Western Cape Department of Health. Leadership is a key competency, particularly in realising the strategic goals of the theatre for both emergency and non-emergency operating nursing, as well as day patient care. A valid driver’s licence is an inherent requirement of the job, along with a willingness to work in the operating theatre and recovery room and to assist the dentist in surgery when needed.

Candidates should note that no payment of any kind is required when applying for this post. The selection process will include a written or practical assessment as well as an oral interview. This advertised post is linked to a facility that forms part of the Ecosystem service platform, meaning that the incumbent may be deployed across institutions within that ecosystem to support continuity of care. This is a professional nursing role that demands both clinical expertise and a commitment to public health service delivery, offering a meaningful career path for a specialist theatre nurse within the Western Cape government health system.