Golden opportunity to operate on a higher level
An experienced, assertive and highly confident nurse is sought for this challenging position
This opening at the Hong Kong Baptist Hospital calls for a confident, assertive, and highly experienced senior nursing officer (operating theatre).
'The chance to be a senior nursing officer is a career hallmark, as promotions in the nursing field are slow. So this is a golden opportunity,' Amy Luk Siu-kuen, deputy chief nursing officer, said.
The growing private hospital which boasts 737 beds and 20,000 operations annually needs someone with more than 15 years' continuous post registration experience and at least eight years in management.
The candidate will look after daily operations in the operating theatre, from the meticulous task of checking labels on specimen bottles to ensuring that protocols and hospital policies are strictly followed.
'We hope everything is consistent and compliance is observed, because this concerns a patient's safety,' Ms Luk said.
This person will also have an administrative role. Aside from managing more than 120 people, the candidate will have to keep up to date on equipment maintenance issues and ensure the hospital has the most recent equipment.
The most frustrating task will be sorting doctor bookings for the operating theatres and this is where a background in private hospitals will prove useful.
A common phenomenon with private hospitals is that doctors will manufacture fake surgeries and patients to pre-emptively secure operating theatre time-slots. This creates shortage and abuse that requires someone with acute problem-solving skills to combat.
Ms Luk said that this role would be a difficult one to fill because the necessary qualities for the position were stringent.
The incumbent must be a specialist in the operating theatre and show a strong command of technical know-how.
'The person must oversee the staff and doctors and make sure they are co-operative. They are all specialists and experts are a unique breed and harder to manage because they are so familiar with the departments and procedures that we need someone who is extremely specialised and familiar with everything about the operating theatre, so you will command respect, and the staff will listen to you,' Ms Luk said.
Being able to strike a balance between assertiveness and understanding is a must.
Because of the shortage of nurses, managing them required diplomacy. You must gain their trust and get them to co-operate, she said.
'So you can't be too autocratic but at the same time you can't be too chummy. You need a balance where they will listen to you and feel that you are concerned.'
Despite the job's tremendous challenges it is rewarding. 'You will see that the doctors and colleagues will come to respect you, listen to you and are willing to co-operate. It is a tremendous and warming feeling.'
