Who are we?
We are the directorate of orthopaedics and major trauma.
Our orthopaedic department is made up of four wards – three trauma and one elective. It was one of the first specialist trauma centres in the UK. We provide primary trauma care for Edinburgh & the Lothians. We treat a diverse range of patients with injuries such as fractures, dislocations, and joint replacements and perform over 6,000 operations a year. Our services care for all patients who experience trauma but also those who need specialist surgery such joint replacements, tumour service and limb deformity.
The Scottish Trauma Network launched in 2017 with the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh becoming a Major Trauma Centre in 2021. Our service provides complex trauma care for the South East of Scotland, covering a population over 1.5 million. The South East Network includes our major trauma centre (MTC) which is made up of our emergency department (ED), major trauma ward, department of clinical neurosciences (DCN) and Royal Hospital for Children and Young People. The major trauma ward provides consultant led, specialist care for those who have polytrauma. It has four level one beds and access to hyper-acute rehabilitation. Our trauma networks vision is ‘Saving lives, giving lives back’.
What do we offer newly qualified nurses?
Orthopaedics is a wonderful place to start your nursing career. We have tailored orthopaedic induction programme which kick starts your journey into trauma & elective. There is one-to-one input from our EdCo (orthopaedic education co-ordinator). We offer surgical nurse training – including all aspects of pre and post operative care. This also includes experiences to go to trauma/elective theatres to help gain a better understanding of the patient journey. There will be a wide range of learning opportunities to experience, including our orthopaedic course. Role development is a key aspect of our education as you progress within your nursing journey and there are opportunities to learn more advanced skills such as traction or orthotics fitting.
We offer a tailored induction to the major trauma service, with opportunities to follow the patients journey from admission to discharge. Newly qualified nurses have the chance to work alongside and shadow all our multi-disciplinary team to understand all aspects of major trauma care. Due to the nature of our patients and their injuries newly qualified nurses work alongside a vast number of different specialities, providing valuable learning opportunities. We also have a Major Trauma Education Lead who will provide one-to-one support to help further knowledge and skills.
What career progress is available?
Orthopaedics offers fantastic opportunities to further your nursing career. Experience can be gained in both trauma and elective orthopaedics. We now also work alongside the Royal Infirmary’s major trauma ward where complex trauma patients are admitted. There are many opportunities for progression in different ways. We offer in house secondments within elective & and trauma and further opportunities to progress to work in the major trauma ward. Management experience is offered including the daily running of a trauma or elective ward, which is great experience for a senior management post. Opportunities are also available to work alongside our enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) team, outpatient department (OPD6),plaster room & biers block clinic.
Major trauma has many excellent resources and opportunities to help with career progression. With a Level 1 area nurses can undergo courses such as Foundation to Critical Care (Level 1 Course). We also offer specialist courses specific to major trauma such as Trauma Care after Resuscitation (TCAR).
With a strong focus on education and enhancing skills there are a wealth of additional courses available to aid progression onto areas such as critical care and the emergency department.
