Theatres Graduate Jobs

If you are looking to work in theatres, as a Theatre Nurse or as an Operating Department Practitioner, you will first need to gain some important qualifications.

Theatre Nurse Qualifications

If you want to work as a Theatre Nurse, you are required to first gain a Diploma in Nursing. New entrants to the nursing profession from September 2013 will have to study a degree. However, diploma courses will be phased out between September 2011 and early 2013. For example, some universities will only offer the new degree programme from September 2011, where others will continue to offer the diploma and current degree programmes throughout 2011 and 2012. By September 2013, all nursing programmes will be degree-only.

The NHS provides financial support to students who take an NHS funded course and who meet eligibility criteria. Support may include payment of tuition and top-up fees, as well as a bursary.

Operating Department Practitioner Qualifications

If you want to work as an Operating Department Practitioner you will need to gain a Dip HE Operating Department Practice. For a list of approved courses for Operating Department Practitioners click here

Both of these routes allow Theatre staff to be trained in the same areas of Anaesthetics, Recovery and Scrub, although to train as an ODP only takes 2 years whereas Theatre Nurses train for longer.

Working as a graduate with PULSE Theatres

Theatre Staff need at least 6 months clinical experience in their field before working with us as an agency. We then recommend that you register with us either through bank work or a full time post.