Sanelisiwe Mahla
Liverpool,NSW
Summary
Nurse leader who drives the health team to focus on providing patients with safe, quality, and evidence-based care. Consistently prioritize efficient and effective care delivery while controlling costs to meet the demands and challenges faced by the healthcare system. Developed critical skills in team leadership and operational management. Seeking to transition these skills into a new field, leveraging current and previous expertise and knowledge. Skilled in leading healthcare facilities through periods of significant change and improvement, with hands-on experience in strategic planning, staff development, and operational management. Known for strengths in enhancing patient care quality, implementing cost-saving measures without compromising service delivery, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Demonstrated ability to improve patient satisfaction scores, and streamline hospital processes for better efficiency across various departments.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Perioperative Services Manager
Sydney Southwest Private Hospital
04.2024 - Current
- Providing leadership and direction to the operating theatre unit to complement the strategic direction, operational processes, budget and business direction of Sydney Southwest Private Hospital
- Operational direction for the operating theatre unit to ensure efficient and effective management of the area and coordinate the delivery of evidence-based nursing care
- Accountable for managing human, financial and material resources effectively, ensuring optimal customer service
- Direct patient care as required, providing guidance and support to the nursing team
- Working with the executive team to business development and adjust to the private health sector demands and challenges
Nurse Unit Manager Level3, Scrub/Scout
North Shore Private Hospital
08.2022 - Current
- Head of the scrub/ scout team consisting of 13 NUMs at level 1&2 team who lead specialties in Neurosurgery, Cardiothoracic, Vascular, Plastics, General, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedics, Urology, Robotics and ENT
- The team has 8 CNS level nurses and nearly 150 scrub/ scout nurses on full-time/ part-time and casual contracts
- Duties/ Achievements include:
- Rostering, Performance management, conflict management and team building
- Risk management, Quality improvement
- New Graduate Training Program (2-year program) with two intakes per year
- Facilitation of professional development for staff to improve clinical practice and deliver evidence-based practice
- Holding departmental team meetings (thrice a month for scrub/scout nurses, nurse unit managers and floor coordinators) and individual nurse consultations
- I participated and facilitated the department's successful accreditation (Short Notice Assessments) in September 2023 based on the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards
- Engaging with HICMR for an effective infection prevention program through risk assessments/ reviews
- HICMR also evaluates department compliance and recommends processes to achieve benchmarks/ policies/ regulations
- Currently undertaking operational efficiencies within the department, focusing on rostering patterns to meet operating room key performance indicators in recognition of the existing Australian subdued economic outlook and the impact of increases in private healthcare insurance premiums
- Quality improvement projects focusing on theatre utilization, updating preference cards, and reducing roster overlaps
- Financial management: auditing invoices/ quotations from companies/ nurse agencies/ suppliers before approval
- Participation in capital expenditure evaluation/ implementation of scrub/ scout equipment
- Relationship building and interaction with staff to increase retention and build a strong team
- Engaging with VMOs to address their needs, staffing, skill mix, equipment, utilization and tracking
- Participated in the commissioning of new theatres by acquiring capital expenditure equipment and setting up ready-for-surgical cases
- Involved with the recruitment of staff, including overseas experienced scrub/ scout nurses
- I participated in completing a successful AHPRA-supervised plan for an overseas employee
- The document is currently being shared with other organization managers to guide them in completing the AHPRA plan for international candidates
- Visit/Liaise with other hospitals in our organization to increase the quality of care and improve processes
- Increased the performance and usage of the Reusable Medical Devices Tracking System by ramping up the education of staff, helped to develop a Bar Code ID card for the system, troubleshooting sheet for each theatre and working closely with the manufacturer to resolve issues promptly
- Participate in personal and continuous professional development by attending conferences, online courses and soon to complete my master's degree
Operating Theatre Floor Coordinator
Kareena Private Hospital
11.2021 - 07.2022
- Providing operational direction for the theatre suite daily
- Coordination of theatre suite to increase operational efficiency
- Supporting medical, nursing, and allied health personnel to deliver evidence-based practice
- Providing clinical support and a continuous learning environment for staff members to promote patient-centred care and risk management
- Was involved with a quality improvement process focusing on specimen labelling and storage standards
- Participating in management meetings and debriefs to identify opportunities to improve service delivery and staff support to enhance professionalism
- Professional development to meet practice requirements and provide educational direction for junior and new staff members
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Urology and Gynecology
Sydney Southwest Private Hospital
10.2010 - 11.2021
- Laser Safety Officer for the department
- Developed the departmental laser policy and documentation when the hospital bought the Holmium and Carbon dioxide Laser machine around 2011
- I was part of the laser safety committee, achieving compliance with laser safety in the perioperative environment as spelled out in ACORN standards and NSW Laser Safety guidelines
- Participated in growing the urology specialty from one urology surgeon to eight
- I helped the theatre manager decide and acquire the resources needed to expand and operate the urology specialty efficiently
- Participated in business Capital Expenditure requests for instruments and equipment from the executive
- Contributed towards the local cytotoxic drugs policy
- Experienced and organized scrub/scout nurse for general, head and neck, breast, plastics, bariatric, and maxilla-facial surgeries
- Mentorship/ Preceptorship of student nurses and inexperienced staff members and dissemination of knowledge skills to colleagues and allied health personnel in the clinical area
Scrub Scout Fertility Nursing
Genea Fertility Clinic (City)
03.2014 - 01.2019
Scrub/Scout Practitioner
Campbelltown Private Hospital
02.2017 - 11.2017
- Urology/ Robotic-Assisted Procedures/ Bariatric Surgery/General/Laser Prostatectomies
- Davinci robotic training online and practical
- 200 watts Diode Laser training and operation
Scrub/Scout Role for Hand and General Surgery, Trauma, and Extensive/ Complicated War Injuries
University Birmingham Hospital (Selly Oak)
Birmingham, UK
04.2009 - 09.2009
- Company Overview: Attained during the Iraq war
- This hospital was part of the United Kingdom Royal Defense Forces
- Attained during the Iraq war
- This hospital was part of the United Kingdom Royal Defense Forces
Theatre Scrub Practitioner
University Birmingham Hospital
Birmingham, UK
07.2008 - 04.2009
- Scrub/scout role for major oncological and reconstructive maxillofacial surgery
Scrub/Scout Bariatric/General/Plastics/Gynecology
Spire Healthcare Little Aston Hospital
Birmingham, UK
03.2008 - 07.2008
- Conducting stock takes effective maintenance of stock/balancing the budget
Scrub/Scout Practitioner for General/Ophthalmology/Oculoplastic/ENT/Gynecology/Plastic and Reconstructive/Urology/First Assistant for Orthopedics/Vascular/Scouting for Cardiac Theatres/Cath Lab
Spire HealthCare Cambridge Lea Hospital
Cambridge, UK
06.2006 - 02.2008
- Use various lasers in plastics, urology, ophthalmology, and vascular specialties
- The types of lasers included erbium, green light laser, varicose vein lasers, argon laser and cryotherapy
- I ordered and managed supplies and implants in the plastic and ophthalmology specialties
- Dealt with outside companies, organized loan kits, and checked items were available as indicated on invoices
- Conducted stock takes
Scrub/Scout for Urology, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics, ENT, and Gynaecology
United Bulawayo Hospitals
05.1997 - 06.2002
Education
MASTERS - NURSING (LEADERSHIP)
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
01.2024
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE - NURSING
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
01.2023
CERTIFICATE - CLINICAL GOVERNANCE FOR PATIENT SAFETY AND QUALITY CARE
AUSTRALASIAN INSTITUTE OF CLINICAL GOVERNANCE
01.2022
STATEMENT OF ATTAINMENT - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF NURSING
01.2021
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE - THEATRE NURSING
AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF NURSING
01.2020
STATEMENT OF ATTAINMENT - INTRODUCTION TO LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF NURSING
01.2020
DIPLOMA - GENERAL NURSING
UNITED BULAWAYO HOSPITALS
ZIMBABWE01.1999
DIPLOMA - THEATRE NURSING
UNITED BULAWAYO HOSPITALS
ZIMBABWE01.1997
Skills
- Clinical and operational expertise
- Resource management
- Strategic planning
- Complex problem solving
- Effective communication
- Honesty
- Fairness
- Consistency
- Calmness
- Focus
- Good sense of humour
- Self-reliance
- Staff management
- Documentation
- Reporting
- Relationship building
- Performance management
- Staff development
- Customer relationship management (CRM)
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Time management
- Customer service
- Task delegation
- Staff training
- Goal setting
- Shift scheduling
- Policy implementation
- Conflict resolution
- Schedule preparation
- Workforce management
- Negotiation
- Budget control
- Financial management
- Emergency response
- Clear communication
- Safety procedures
- Employee onboarding
- Coaching
- Mentoring
- Work prioritization
- Recruiting
- Interviewing
- Risk management
- Change management
- Teamwork
- Collaboration
- Positive attitude
- Adaptability
- Flexibility
- Multitasking
- Professionalism
- Courteousness
- Good judgment
- Operational management
- Team leadership
- Regulatory compliance
- Patient care
- Quality improvement
- Risk assessment
- Evidence-based practice
- Resource allocation
- Delegation
- Scheduling management
- Budget oversight
- Operating room efficiency
- Patient safety
- Clinical competence
Accomplishments
- Achieved 100% of scrub/scout team performance reviews from 20%
- E-learning pushed to currently 93% from 83%
- Enforced the policy of checking surgical trays pre-and post-operatively
- Successful accreditation of department without recommendations
- Ensured staff had contracts that reflected actual working hours, with a verbal recommendation by the line manager
- Strong leadership skills based on developing relationships with staff and reducing toxic work environments
- Ability to staff 19 theatres with a great skill mix despite challenging experienced staff shortages
Hobbies and Interests
- Formula One motor racing fan and indulge myself periodically by attending Bathurst motor racing
- Novice hiker
- National Geographic documentaries on African wildlife and conservation
References
To be provided at request.
Languages
English, Full Professional
Timeline
Perioperative Services Manager
Sydney Southwest Private Hospital
04.2024 - Current
Nurse Unit Manager Level3, Scrub/Scout
North Shore Private Hospital
08.2022 - Current
Operating Theatre Floor Coordinator
Kareena Private Hospital
11.2021 - 07.2022
Scrub/Scout Practitioner
Campbelltown Private Hospital
02.2017 - 11.2017
Scrub Scout Fertility Nursing
Genea Fertility Clinic (City)
03.2014 - 01.2019
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Urology and Gynecology
Sydney Southwest Private Hospital
10.2010 - 11.2021
Scrub/Scout Role for Hand and General Surgery, Trauma, and Extensive/ Complicated War Injuries
University Birmingham Hospital (Selly Oak)
04.2009 - 09.2009
Theatre Scrub Practitioner
University Birmingham Hospital
07.2008 - 04.2009
Scrub/Scout Bariatric/General/Plastics/Gynecology
Spire Healthcare Little Aston Hospital
03.2008 - 07.2008
Scrub/Scout Practitioner for General/Ophthalmology/Oculoplastic/ENT/Gynecology/Plastic and Reconstructive/Urology/First Assistant for Orthopedics/Vascular/Scouting for Cardiac Theatres/Cath Lab
Spire HealthCare Cambridge Lea Hospital
06.2006 - 02.2008
Scrub/Scout for Urology, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics, ENT, and Gynaecology
United Bulawayo Hospitals
05.1997 - 06.2002
MASTERS - NURSING (LEADERSHIP)
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE - NURSING
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
CERTIFICATE - CLINICAL GOVERNANCE FOR PATIENT SAFETY AND QUALITY CARE
AUSTRALASIAN INSTITUTE OF CLINICAL GOVERNANCE
STATEMENT OF ATTAINMENT - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF NURSING
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE - THEATRE NURSING
AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF NURSING
STATEMENT OF ATTAINMENT - INTRODUCTION TO LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF NURSING
DIPLOMA - GENERAL NURSING
UNITED BULAWAYO HOSPITALS
DIPLOMA - THEATRE NURSING
UNITED BULAWAYO HOSPITALS
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