Theatre / Scrub Nurse CV Template & Example
Write a Theatre / Scrub Nurse CV that evidences perioperative practice, the WHO surgical checklist, and scrub, circulating and recovery competence.
Preview · Theatre Practitioner CV
Theatre CVs are read for perioperative competence across scrub, circulating and recovery, and for rigorous adherence to the WHO surgical safety checklist. Naming the specialties you have scrubbed for — general, orthopaedic, ENT, vascular or emergency — tells a theatre manager whether your skill set matches the list.
This template helps you present instrument and count accuracy, asepsis, and teamwork under time pressure with clear, honest bullets. Your NMC or HCPC (ODP) registration and mandatory training sit where perioperative recruiters look for them.
How to make your Theatre / Scrub Nurse CV stand out
Recruiter expectations
- Clinical / care experience
- Mandatory training
- DBS & registration
- Safeguarding awareness
ATS keywords to include (where true)
Use the terms below only where they genuinely reflect your experience.
Certifications & training
Licences & registration
Achievements worth quantifying
- Improved patient outcomes
- Reduced incidents
- Audit / compliance gains
What a strong Theatre / Scrub Nurse CV should include
- Professional profile / summary
- Lead with your role, registration/band and years in care. Show compassion, safeguarding and person-centred care — backed by evidence, not adjectives.
- Skills & competencies
- Surface clinical competencies recruiters scan for — the right ones for your specialty.
- Experience
- Name the setting and caseload, then quantify: audits, escalations, training, patient outcomes.
- Education
- Qualification, institution and year. Most recent first.
- Certifications & training
- Mandatory training + clinical certifications, kept current (BLS, Safeguarding, IPC…).
- References
- Clinical referees (ward sister, team manager) — 'available on request' is fine.
- Languages
- Language and an honest fluency level.
Clinical action + setting + measurable patient or service outcome.
Theatre / Scrub Nurse CV — frequently asked questions
What should a Theatre Nurse CV highlight?
Scrub, circulating and recovery experience, WHO checklist adherence, asepsis and count accuracy, and the surgical specialties you have supported.
Do you list specialties on a scrub CV?
Yes — specialty exposure such as orthopaedic, general, ENT or vascular is a key screening point, so group your experience by the lists you have scrubbed for.
Is ODP experience relevant here?
Yes. Operating Department Practitioners and theatre nurses share perioperative competencies; state your registration and the roles you cover, such as scrub, anaesthetic or recovery.
How do I show patient safety in theatres?
Reference the WHO surgical safety checklist, swab and instrument counts, and your role in briefings and sign-out — the safety behaviours recruiters expect.
Explore related CV guides
Ready to build your Theatre / Scrub Nurse CV?
Start from the Theatre Practitioner CV template — editable, ATS-safe, and ready to export. Then diagnose, tailor and add a matching cover letter.