Theatre Nurse Jobs in Australia

Perioperative nursing covers the full surgical journey, including anaesthetic nursing, scrub scout roles in theatre, and post-anaesthetic recovery or PACU nursing. Some definitions also include CSSD and sterilisation services.

The terms are closely related. Theatre nurse is the more common candidate-facing term, while perioperative nurse is the broader clinical and industry term used by ACORN and most hospital job classifications.

We recruit permanent positions, and contracts of more than six months, at private hospitals. We do not place agency, casual or locum shifts.

Carejobz recruits perioperative nursing roles at private hospitals across Australia, covering scrub scout, anaesthetic, PACU and CSSD specialties. Current roles are listed above, or get in touch directly and we will let you know what is available.

PACU stands for Post Anaesthesia Care Unit. In Australia, PACU nurse and recovery nurse generally refer to the same role, caring for patients immediately after surgery as they wake from anaesthesia. Terminology varies between hospitals.

Not necessarily. Many PACU nurses come from a perioperative or theatre background. Some hospitals do value critical care or emergency experience for senior or high-acuity recovery roles.

Carejobz recruits PACU and recovery nurse roles at private hospitals across Australia. Current roles are listed above, or get in touch directly and we will let you know what is available, including roles not yet advertised.

There is no single mandatory qualification, but most private hospitals expect a Certificate III or IV in Sterilising Services, or equivalent on-the-job experience, along with current competency in instrument tracking systems and AS/NZS 4187 standards.

Experience with systems such as T-DOC or Censitrac is highly regarded, but hospitals will often train on their specific system if you have strong general sterilisation and decontamination experience.

Carejobz recruits CSSD and sterilisation services roles at private hospitals across Australia. Current roles are listed above, or get in touch directly and we will let you know what is available, including roles not yet advertised.

An anaesthetic nurse assists the anaesthetist before, during and after the administration of anaesthesia. This includes preparing equipment and drugs, monitoring the patient, and recognising and responding to any intraoperative complications.

Familiarity with ANZCA PS08 standards for the Assistant to the Anaesthetist role is highly regarded, but not always mandatory depending on the position. We will discuss the specific requirements for each role during the application process.

Carejobz recruits anaesthetic nurse roles at private hospitals across Australia. Current roles are listed above, or get in touch directly and we will let you know what is available, including roles not yet advertised.

An anaesthetic nurse is a registered nurse with AHPRA registration, working within the RN scope of practice to assist anaesthetists. An anaesthetic technician is a separate, non-nursing role and does not hold nursing registration. The two are not interchangeable from a credentialling or scope of practice standpoint in Australian private hospitals.

Yes, where clients have a need for anaesthetic technicians specifically, we can assist. Get in touch to discuss your requirements, whether you are seeking a registered anaesthetic nurse or a technician role.

A scrub scout nurse works both sides of the operating theatre. Scrubbed, they work within the sterile field, managing instruments and the surgical count. Scouting, they work outside it, sourcing equipment, documenting and supporting the scrubbed team.

Not necessarily. We recruit scrub scout nurses across general surgery, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, ENT and other specialties. Some roles require specific specialty experience, others are open to nurses with broad theatre experience.

Carejobz recruits scrub scout nurse roles at private hospitals across Australia. Current roles are listed above, or get in touch directly and we will let you know what is available, including roles not yet advertised.

Carejobz recruits permanent theatre nurse roles across Brisbane and surrounding private hospitals. The roles we recruit are listed above. Get in touch directly and we will let you know what is available, including roles not yet advertised.

Yes. We recruit permanent perioperative roles across Sunshine Coast private hospitals, including scrub scout, anaesthetic and PACU nurse positions.

We place theatre nurses across Gold Coast private hospitals on a permanent basis, covering scrub scout, anaesthetic, PACU and theatre leadership roles. Get in touch to hear about current and upcoming opportunities.

Yes. We recruit across regional Queensland as well as the major metro areas, including roles in Mackay and the Whitsundays.

Yes. We never approach a client with your details or share your CV without your explicit approval and a conversation first. Your search is entirely in your control.

We place scrub scout nurses, anaesthetic nurses, PACU and recovery nurses, and perioperative clinical leaders including NUM and CNS roles. All placements are permanent positions, or contracts of more than six months, at private hospitals across Australia.

No. Many of the nurses we place are not actively job hunting when we first speak. If you are open to hearing about the right opportunity confidentially, register your interest and we will be in touch when something relevant comes up.

We place theatre nurses across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. Current roles are regularly available in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.

Yes. Our fee is paid by the hiring hospital. There is no cost to you at any point in the process.

We only recruit perioperative nurses. That focus means we understand the difference between scrub and scout, know what a complex case mix looks like, and only present you to hospitals where there is a genuine fit. You will always speak directly to Paul or Kate.