Constança Paiva Raposo Lobo da Silva
Cambridge,United Kingdom
Summary
Theatre Staff Nurse Practitioner
Staff Nurse with 10 years of nursing experience. A background in Gynaecology surgery and related sub-specialities at Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust. Skilled in theatre procedures and robotic surgery, with a solid clinical foundation and a methodical approach to patient care. Passionate about team support and development, promoting a collaborative and positive work culture. Focused on delivering high-quality healthcare outcomes through effective teamwork and communication.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Bank Theatre Practitioner
Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
05.2024 - 08.2025
I was responsible for delivering high-quality perioperative care across a range of surgical specialities. Working alongside leading consultants and an experienced multidisciplinary team, the role focuses on ensuring safe, efficient, and patient-centred care throughout
the surgical journey.
Responsibilities:
- Provided specialist perioperative support as a scrub or circulating practitioner, assisting with a wide range of surgical procedures;
- Maintained accurate documentation and adhered to clinical governance, infection control, and safety standards;
- Assisted in minor to intermediate procedures and undertook circulating duties as required, depending on competence and training.
Staff Nurse – Scrub Nurse and Circulating Practitioner
Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust – Addenbrooke's Hospital
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
09.2018 - Current
Staff Nurse – Scrub Nurse and Circulating Practitioner in Day Surgery Unit, mainly in Gynaecology surgery and its sub-specialities – ATC Theatres Department
- Core Duties
Pre-operative preparation:
- Ensured all surgical instruments, equipment, and sterile supplies are ready and functioning;
- Verified patient identity, surgical site, and consent in line with safety protocols - put into practice the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist.
Intra-operative responsibilities:
- Maintained a sterile field throughout the procedure;
- Handed instruments and materials to the surgeon promptly and accurately;
- Anticipated the surgeon’s needs to ensure smooth workflow;
- Prepared theatres, equipment, and instruments according to clinical requirements and consultant preferences, ensuring readiness for
each case;
- Monitored for breaks in aseptic technique and corrected them immediately.
Post-operative tasks:
- Accounted for all instruments, swabs, and sharps before wound closure;
- Assisted with the safe transfer of the patient to recovery;
- Cleaned the theatre and restocked equipment for future procedures. - Professional Responsibilities:
Patient safety and advocacy:
- Safeguard the patient’s dignity and well-being during surgery;
- Acted as a patient advocate when they were unconscious or unable to speak.
Clinical expertise:
- Applied advanced knowledge of surgical procedures, anatomy, and infection control;
- Stayed updated with new surgical techniques and technologies.
Staff Nurse in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Operating Theatres
The National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Dublin, Dublin
03.2018 - 08.2018
Anaesthetic and Recovery Nurse, providing care to patients undergoing procedures in theatre for obstetrics and gynaecology:
- Cared for women and babies in recovery, and supporting breastfeeding;
- Cared for women post-operatively and worked in a multidisciplinary team.
Staff Nurse at Rosie Theatre – Maternity department – Obstetrics theatre
Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust– Rosie Hospital
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
11.2016 - 03.2018
In this job, I started providing care to patients in Recovery after delivery, coming from the theatre. I developed skills such as monitoring vital signs, having capacity to identify signs of decompensation and acting accordingly to stabilise patient; work with multidisciplinary team such as colleagues, Anaesthetist, Midwife and Midwife Care Assistant to provide the best care to patient and her baby; being able to recognise the signs of haemorrhage; know how to assess surgical wound, uterus contraction and amount and characteristics of lochia; assist patient with breastfeeding.
Working in Obstetric Theatre, I developed skills as a Circulating Theatre Nurse Practitioner and as a Scrub Nurse in obstetric cases: Lower Segment Caesarean Section, including multiple-birth cases, Vaginal delivery trials, Tear repairs, and Manual removal of placenta. In theatre, I learned the importance of maintaining aseptic technique and the correct counts of swabs, sharps, and instruments to prevent infection and patient harm. In Elective and Emergency cases, I can work as part of a team and perform as a Scrub nurse in Obstetric instances and as a Circulating Theatre Practitioner.
Staff Nurse in Ward C5 – Nephrology and General Medicine
Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust – Addenbrooke's Hospital
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
06.2015 - 11.2016
In ward C5 I developed skills as a newly qualified Staff Nurse, getting used to the Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust system, following its policies and Trust values (together – Safe, Kind and Excellent), being able to work as a team leader, developing skills such as: monitoring patients' vital signs, skin and wound assessment, managing care plan and adapting it according to patients' needs, good documentation on EPIC and providing better nursing care acting as a team member, taking responsibility for the patients under my care.
I provided care to adult patients with chronic and acute kidney disease, patients needing haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, diabetic patients, and patients requiring palliative care.
Education
Nursing Degree - Healthcare
Institute of Health Sciences at Portugal Catholic University
Lisbon, Portugal 09.2010 - 01.2015
Healthcare
Institute of Health Sciences at Portugal Catholic University
Lisbon, Portugal /2015 - /2015
Healthcare
Institute of Health Sciences at Portugal Catholic University
Lisbon, Portugal /2014 - /2014
Healthcare
Institute of Health Sciences at Portugal Catholic University
Lisbon, Portugal /2013 - /2013
Healthcare
Institute of Health Sciences at Portugal Catholic University
Lisbon, Portugal /2012 - /2012
Healthcare
Institute of Health Sciences at Portugal Catholic University
Lisbon, Portugal /2011 - /2011
Skills
- Experienced scrub nurse specialising in gynaecology surgery, including oncology, reproductive medicine, urogynaecology and emergency procedures
- Skilled in robotic surgery (Da Vinci and CMR robots), including setup, troubleshooting and safe intraoperative workflow
- Strong knowledge of gynaecological sub-specialities, including laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and urogynaecology
- Excellent aseptic technique, infection control practice and adherence to WHO surgical safety checklists
- Confident in anticipating surgeon needs, managing surgical counts and maintaining smooth theatre flow
- Effective communicator who collaborates well with multidisciplinary teams in high‑pressure environments
- Supports junior staff through coaching, role‑modelling, and the creation of a positive, safe learning culture
- Contributes to safety, quality and governance through incident reporting, reflection and continuous improvement
- Adapts quickly to new systems and technologies, including EPIC and robotic platforms
- Values‑driven practitioner committed to compassionate, safe and high‑quality patient care
Languages
First Language Portuguese
Native
English
Fluent
Spanish
Fluent
French
Elementary (A2)
Certification
2025
- The Role of a Practice Supervisor, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Annual Online eLearning Mandatory Training and Essential for Role, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust:
-Conflict Resolution;
-Equality, Diversity and Human Rights;
-Fire Safety Awareness; Health and Safety and Welfare at CUH;
-Infection, Prevention and Control - Level 2;
-Information Governance, including GDPR and Cyber Security;
-Moving and Handling - Level 1 and 2;
-Safeguarding Adults - Level 1 and 2;
-Safeguarding Children -Level 1 and 2; Basic Life Support Adult and Paediatric;
-Basic Prevention Awareness;
-Fire Evacuation;
-Duty of Candour;
-Falls Prevention and Management;
-How to Report an Incident;
-Medical Gas Awareness;
-Safer Sharps;
-Surgical Count;
-Tissue Viability - Pressure Ulcer Prevention;
-WHO Perioperative Care Assessment
- Ultrasonic dissector CMR Versius, Online Versius.
- Leadership and Team Skills ILM 2 Award, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
2024
- CMR Versius eLearning Online and Face-to-Face Basic Device Sterile Nurse training, by Online Versius and CMR Surgical.
- Da Vinci Intuitive Online Assessment, by Online Intuitive.
- Challenger Ti-P: assembly, disassembly, best practice and troubleshooting, by Braun, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- NovaSure Endometrial Ablation V5 Seating Training, by Hologic, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Theatre Staff Study Day, by Ethicon, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust:
-Energy devices, Stapling, Sutures and Haemostat Training.
2023
- BSGE Annual Scientific Meeting for Endometriosis Nurse Training and Congress, British Society
for Gynaecological Endoscopy, Manchester.
2022
- Richard Wolf Training: Motor control; Suction pump; Motor handpiece and Piranha consumables, by Richard Wolf, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Rezum System Set Up Training, by Boston Scientific, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Lithoclast Trilogy Training, by Boston Scientific, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Theatre Staff Study Day, by Ethicon, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust:
-Energy devices and Harmonic scalpel; Open and Laparoscopic stapling devices;
-Sutures and topical adhesives;
-Haemostats and bleeding management.
2021
- Alaris Asena GH Syringe Pump (intravenous infusion), Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Webinar Compliance in Sedation, Sedate UK online.
2020
- Surgical Regional Study Day: Principles and Safety of Electrosurgery; My Surgical Practice and
Human Factors; Clinical Scenario Workshops, by Olympus, London. - Myosure training: equipment setup and troubleshooting during the procedure, by Hologic, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- The Basics of Diathermy, Perioperative CPD online training.
- Latex Allergy, Perioperative CPD online training.
2019
- Theatre Staff Study Day, by Ethicon, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust:
-Energy devices and Harmonic scalpel; Open and Laparoscopic stapling devices;
-Sutures and topical adhesives;
-Haemostats and bleeding management.
- Baxter Advanced Surgery Training for Floseal and Tisseel Baxter Products, by Baxter, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Imaging System, by Karl STORZ, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Airseal and Low-Pressure Laparoscopy, by LawMed, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- The Oncology Society Conference, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge.
2018
- Division A Accelerated Design Event for Theatres, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- OR1 Mini User Training by Karl STORZ, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Online Course via Future Learn: Perioperative Medicine in Action, University College London.
- People and Manual Handling Programme; Basic Life Support - American Heart Association; Breastfeeding Refresher Programme, National Maternity Hospital.
- Medication Management, Clinical Risk, National Maternity Hospital E-learning.
- Managing Attendance; Quality Management, Health Safety, Fire Safety, Environmental Management,
Decontamination, National Maternity Hospital, E-learning HSEland online: Breaking the Chain of Infection: Hand Hygiene for Clinical Staff, An Introduction to Children First.
2017
- Breastfeeding management (UNICEF standard), Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Online Course via Future Learn- Babies in Mind: Why parents' minds matter, The University of Warwick.
- Workshop: Running a Theatre, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust
Topics:
- Equipment used in theatre;
- Team organisation by role;
- Cleaning a theatre, products to be used. - Workshop: Anaesthetic Overview, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust
Topics:
- General anaesthesia
- Regional and Local anaesthesia. - Workshop: Communication in Theatres, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust
Topics:
- Verbal and non-verbal communication
- Multidisciplinary work.
2016
- Face-to-face: Theatre Practitioner, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust
Topics :
- EPIC theatre training - Haemodialysis training (not completed), Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Tissue Viability Link Nurse, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust
-Tissue Viability Link Nurse update;
-Wound assessment;
-Moisture lesions and pressure ulcers.
- MODS - Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Annual Clinical Mandatory Update – Practical, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Clinical Essentials e-learning: Mandatory Training e-learning: Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults - Level 1 Safeguarding Adults 2 Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
2015:
- Intravenous Drug Administration: Alaris pump, Training PCA syringe pump, Training Syringe subcutaneous infusion pump, Training Baxter Pump; Training Peritoneal Dialysis, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Single-Handed Drug Administration Assessment Book, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
- Security Awareness Safeguarding Children - Level 1 Flocare Infinity Pump Training Neurological Observation Competency Assessment Cannulation Assessment during teaching session Personal protective equipment and barrier nursing Insertion and management of a Urinary Catheter Management of CVC and PICC Aseptic dressing technique Safeguarding Children - Level 2 Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
Accomplishments
2020
I was nominated for the ‘You Made a Difference Award’ after supporting a patient who became distressed during their intraoperative journey. I stayed with them, reassured them, and helped them remain calm both before induction and again when they woke in recovery; during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Operating Theatres at Cambridge University Hospital Foundation Trust.
2017
I was nominated for the Rosie Hospital Employee of the Month (EOTM) while working at the Rosie Theatres for being dedicated to supporting women who were breastfeeding their babies in Rosie Recovery by attending a breastfeeding workshop on my day off to represent the Theatre Staff at Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
Alternative Therapy Skills
2013
- Traditional Reiki (Usui Shiki Ryoho System) course – Levels I and II, with trainer Maria Fernanda Sousa, Fito-clinic (Portugal).
- Moxibustion and Cupping workshop with trainer Luís Lavado at the Institute of Traditional Medicine (Portugal).
Additional Skills
Psychological Techniques:
2009
- Silva Method course, Portugal for Young People, Series 101-202 (Silva Mind Control International, Texas, USA; a self-help programme using guided imagery and meditation to increase individual abilities and well-being).
Music and Theatre:
1997-2008
- Participation in a choir for several classical concerts, two operas, and several musicals in Lisbon (Portugal). Ballet classes and performances at several venues in Portugal; Music, choir and piano lessons at Cascais Music Conservatory (Portugal).
Conferences and Seminars
2014
- "Good Practice in Health Promotion”, Professional Nursing College, Salamanca, Spain.
- "Alcohol, Health and Society", Salamanca Pontificia University, Spain.
- Member of the organising committee of the 3rdNursing conference, Institute of Health Sciences, Portuguese Catholic University, on the theme "Humane care: Challenges and innovation in Nursing".
2013
- "The Brain and Language: What we speak, why we speak, with the brain we have", Health Sciences Institute, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal.
- "Nursing: Contexts and challenges", Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal.
2012
- "An initiative to think of the future" at the Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal.
2010
- Several Entrepreneurship conferences, Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning from Judge Business School (University of Cambridge); Magic Solver, Polysolar, Green Tide (Idea Space Cambridge); National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs (London).
- Day of the applicant for the Nursing degree, Institute of Health Sciences, Portuguese Catholic University.
- Vincentian Conference, Institute of Health Sciences, Portuguese Catholic University: included workshops on "Stress management", "Relaxation massage” and "Care in disaster situations".
Projects
2010
- "Groovy Style" Project – Creation of a shampoo for the 4th Entrepreneurial Schools contest, DNA, Cascais (Portugal). – Awarded 1st Prize.
Timeline
Bank Theatre Practitioner
Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital
05.2024 - 08.2025
Staff Nurse – Scrub Nurse and Circulating Practitioner
Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust – Addenbrooke's Hospital
09.2018 - Current
Staff Nurse in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Operating Theatres
The National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
03.2018 - 08.2018
Staff Nurse at Rosie Theatre – Maternity department – Obstetrics theatre
Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust– Rosie Hospital
11.2016 - 03.2018
Staff Nurse in Ward C5 – Nephrology and General Medicine
Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust – Addenbrooke's Hospital
06.2015 - 11.2016
Nursing Degree - Healthcare
Institute of Health Sciences at Portugal Catholic University
09.2010 - 01.2015
Healthcare
Institute of Health Sciences at Portugal Catholic University
/2015 - /2015
Healthcare
Institute of Health Sciences at Portugal Catholic University
/2014 - /2014
Healthcare
Institute of Health Sciences at Portugal Catholic University
/2013 - /2013
Healthcare
Institute of Health Sciences at Portugal Catholic University
/2012 - /2012
Healthcare
Institute of Health Sciences at Portugal Catholic University
/2011 - /2011