Practice Development Nurse - Perioperative
MELBOURNE, VIC, AU, 3000
The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) is a Victorian public health service and a world-leading comprehensive cancer centre seeking to excel across all spheres of clinical care, research and education. We have the largest cancer research enterprise in Australia and provide treatment to about 40,000 people with cancer each year.
We aim to continuously improve cancer care, research and education across all cancers and for all people affected by cancer: changing lives, breaking new ground. Everything we do is underpinned by our core values, Excellence, Compassion and Innovation. Welcoming people from a wide variety of different backgrounds and experiences is critical to fostering innovation, cultivating compassion, attracting top talent and providing the best possible cancer care for our patients.
YOUR ROLE IN OUR FUTURE
Ongoing, Part-Time (0.5 FTE) Role
The Peter MacCallum Operating Suite is a dynamic and vibrant environment encompassing eight operating theatres and an extensive Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU). The unit provides comprehensive anaesthetic and surgical services for patients requiring surgery for cancer. Care is delivered through an integrated multidisciplinary approach, utilising purpose built, state of the art infrastructure. The operating theatres are integrated to support intraoperative radiotherapy, 2-D and 3-D laparoscopic equipment, and an established Da Vinci Robotic program.
The Operating Theatre Practice Development Nurse (PDN) is a senior leadership position with considerable perioperative knowledge, skills, and experience across a range of surgical specialties. At Peter Mac, the Operating Theatre PDN provides professional development across the following surgical specialties:
• Colorectal and Gynaecology Surgery
• Endoscopy
• Urology and Brachytherapy
• Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) and Hepatobiliary Surgery
• ENT/Head & Neck Surgery
• Breast, Melanoma and Sarcoma Surgery
• Plastic Surgery
The Ideal Applicant
As a clinical leader, the Operating Theatre PDN will support staff through advanced clinical practice models, whilst promoting personal and professional accountability for the professional development of the Scrub/Scout nursing staff. This position requires exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to prioritise and adapt to changes within a growing and supportive environment.
The applicant will ideally demonstrate:
• Highly developed communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Extensive nursing or education expertise preferably in Oncology nursing.
• Commitment to improvement and excellence in the delivery of outcomes.
• Willingness to provide best evidenced based practice and mentorship.
We can offer you:
• Comprehensive supportive orientation and opportunities to grow your career
• A real focus on staff wellbeing with our nurses CARE program
• Salary packaging
Applicants to this role should provide a covering letter outlining relative key skills and experience to assist us with our assessment.
Remuneration as per Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2024-2028 - ANUM Year 1 (YW11) $115,538.80 per annum (full-time equivalent - $57,769.40 per annum prorated for part-time) to ANUM Year 2 (YW12) $119,428.40 per annum (full-time equivalent - $59,714.20 per annum prorated for part-time) dependent on candidate experience. To be discussed with Hiring Manager.
For further information about this opportunity, click Apply to be redirected to the Peter Mac Careers page where you can review the position summary. Alternatively, please contact us using the information below for a confidential discussion.
Hiring Manager: Catherine Clifford - Nurse Unit Manager
Contact Number: 03 8559 5730
Email: Catherine.Clifford@petermac.org
Applications close: 11:59pm Monday 21 July 2025.
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Position Summary
The Practice Development Nurse will be responsible for the development of clinical nursing skills and knowledge within the specialty area of Perioperative Nursing. They will work alongside the CNE and fellow Perioperative PDNs, to plan and coordinate the individual education requirements of nursing staff at all clinical levels to enable safe and effective patient-centered care.
The Perioperative PDN will have demonstrated ability to conduct appropriate clinically orientated education and be skilled in the assessment, coordination and planning of continual education and practice development activities.
The Perioperative PDN will promote sustained clinical effectiveness by leading and collaborating to ensure evidence- based practice.
Responsibilities will include:
• Development of Learning Packages (Novice to Expert)
• Development of Scope of Practice Documents
• Provision of supernumerary period for graduate nurses and staff rotating into Scrub/Scout
• Involved in the support/education of graduate nurses during their Scrub/Scout rotation, including competency assessments and appraisals
• Orientation of new staff members to specialty practice
• Involved in the development/updating of Policy and Procedures to support safe clinical practice across all perioperative nursing areas.
• Collaboration with the Theatre Leadership team to identify system and process issues that affect patient outcomes
• Upskilling Scrub/Scout RN’s to reach required clinical competencies including On-Call requirements
The Perioperative PDN will also be involved in the following:
• In-service Education sessions (planned and ad-hoc)
• Graduate Nurse Program
• Post Graduate Nurse Program
• Undergraduate Nurse Program
• Involved in the development and updating of SDLP, WPLAT & CAT
Enterprise Agreement
Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2020-2024.
Classification or Salary Range
RN ANUM YW11 - YW12
Immunisation Risk Category
Immunisation Category A
Key Relationships
| Internal | • Perioperative Nurse Unit Manager • Perioperative Clinical Nurse Educator • Perioperative Practice Development Nurses • Medical Staff • Research Nurses • Clinical Nurse Leader Groups • All Nursing Staff • Administrative and support staff • Allied Health Professionals • Academic Nursing Unit CNEs and program coordinators • Interdepartmental PDNs |
| External | • Professional Organisations e.g. VPNG/ACORN/GENSA/ACPAN/CNSA • Company representatives • Visiting Students and medical officers • Practice Development Nurses from other organisations • Health Care Providers • University Personnel • Other healthcare facilities |
Skills
| Essential Requirements | • Current AHPRA registration • Demonstrated expertise and at least 3 years’ experience in Perioperative Nursing • Demonstrated experience with educational activities • Demonstrated ability to practice collaboratively as part of the multidisciplinary health care team • Professional Role Model • High Level of reliability and professional conduct and behaviour • Developing ability to effectively lead local teams • Well-developed communication and presentation skills • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other computer skills |
| Desirable Requirements | • Post Graduate qualifications in Perioperative Nursing • Certificate IV Training and Assessment • Practice change experience • Active participation in local nursing leadership forums • Participation in local/international practice development activities • An Understanding of and experience with developing evidence based practice |
Certifications, Licenses & Registrations
Key Accountabilities
| Key Accountabilities | Demonstrated by / Key Performance Indicators |
| 1. Facilitates quality patient outcomes through a patient centred environment based on best practice standards | • Facilitate a culture of clinical effectiveness through reflection on nursing practice that identifies and explores patient care issues • Facilitation of the review and critique of evidence through advocacy and support for a culture of research utilisation • Utilisation of best available evidence to effect practice change to improve patient outcomes • Development of competencies and other strategies to meet identified practice development needs in order to achieve best practice |
| 2. Empower clinical nursing staff through facilitation of orientation and preceptorship, to achieve safe clinical practice | • PDN in collaboration with NUM, preceptors, and clinical educators, assumes responsibility for:
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| 3. Facilitates excellence in clinical nursing practice and supports ongoing professional development | • Each member of nursing staff has an individual learning and development plan based on a needs analysis and their personal preferences and goals • A flexible and innovative continuing education program reflects the identified learning needs of nursing staff • Records of professional development activities are maintained to enable nursing staff to compile a professional practice portfolio |
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Peter Mac is a child safe organisation and has a commitment to child safety and wellbeing.
WHY WORK FOR PETER MAC
- Peter Mac offer a range of benefits which support our people both personally and professionally.
- Our staff benefits include award winning facilities, professional development and events, a health and wellbeing program, flexible work practices and policies and financial benefits such as salary packaging.
- We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with a disability.