Unit Manager – Surgical Ward
Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital is a private, independent non-profit hospital with 181 hospital beds, committed to providing superior patient-centric care, whilst advancing towards world class clinical innovation. The hospital’s core services include cardiology, cardio thoracic surgery, spinal surgery, orthopaedic surgery, general surgery, ear-nose and throat surgery, specialist physicians and the following paediatric services – general, neurological, cardiology and gastroenterology services.
Role
- The Unit Manager will be responsible for coordinating specialised surgical nursing care in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team, ensuring compliance to professional and ethical practice.
- The incumbent will also be responsible for monitoring and ensuring that post-operative nursing care, recovery protocols and service delivery are implemented and practiced within a multi-disciplinary quality assurance team.
- The Unit Manager will ensure optimal patient flow through pre-operative, post-operative and discharge phases, promoting efficient bed utilisation and reduced surgical delays.
Responsibilities
- Ensure the unit is providing safe, cost-effective, high-quality surgical and post-operative patient care in line with the Clinical Governance strategy and evidence-based practice, and by implementing hospital quality initiatives within the unit with the focus on improved clinical outcomes and report accordingly.
- Promote customer satisfaction within the unit, address customer complaints, conduct quality care rounds and surgical clinical practice audits to monitor care levels and report accordingly.
- Manage employees and resources efficiently to ensure optimum functioning of the unit.
- Ensure orientation of new employees and continuous development of employees according to the in-service program, with specific focus on surgical nursing competencies and post-operative care protocols.
- Manage stock utilization and drive product management through ensuring correct billing, stock management and stock levels, including specialised surgical consumables and equipment.
- Ensure compliance with protocols, policies, standard operating procedures, infection prevention and control standards, nursing standards and Acts.
- Participate in business planning and budgeting processes and manage nursing costs according to the budget.
- Investigate all negative incidents, including surgical complications, medication errors and patient falls, and ensure appropriate capturing on the reporting system.
- Ensure that all medical equipment is in working order and properly maintained, including monitoring devices, infusion pumps and specialised surgical recovery equipment.
- Management of unit capital expenditure budget.
- Develop and maintain multi-disciplinary relationships and collaboration, especially with surgeons, anaesthetists, physiotherapists and theatre staff.
- Maintain a healthy relationship with external stakeholders by reporting and escalating unresolved issues to the Nursing Manager.
- Perform all duties in accordance with the South African Nursing Council (SANC), Department of Health (DOH) and Office of Healthcare Standard Compliance.
- Ensure adherence to enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) principles, pain management protocols, wound care standards and patient education related to surgical recovery and discharge planning.
Education
- A relevant nursing qualification (Diploma in General Nursing/ B Cur Degree).
- Post basic qualification in Nursing Administration and Management will be advantageous.
- Management qualification will be to your advantage.
Experience and Requirements
2 or more years’ experience managing a General / Surgical Ward in a private hospital setting.
Other
- Effective leadership and people management skills.
- Proficient in English.
- Sound knowledge of budgetary process.
- Effective communicator.
- Show empathy and compassion.
- Adaptable.
- Resilient.
- Service Orientated.
- Planning, organizing, delegation
- Time management skills.
- Conflict management and problem-solving skills.
- Value diversity.
- Apply company values in the workplace.
- Assertive and confident.
- An intermediate level of Computer proficiency.
Additional Information
Interested candidates must please submit their CV’s to recruitment@zah.co.za
Closing date: 5 January 2026
Only shortlisted candidates to be contacted. If you did not receive feedback from the hospital within four weeks of the closing date your application was unsuccessful.
Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital is an equal opportunity employer