Nathan Cottey, Registered Nurse

Professional Experience

I began my career in 2016 at a large city hospital, specialising in urology theatre. I have developed a broad range of scrub and theatre skills across complex open procedures including radical nephrectomy, prostatectomy, cystectomy with neobladder or ileal conduit formation, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, and nephrectomy with inferior vena cava clearance. My laparoscopic experience includes nephrectomy, nephroureterectomy, prostatectomy, pyeloplasty, and varicocele repair. I have also supported benign incontinence procedures such as artificial sphincter insertion, male and female sling procedures, Martius fat pad grafts, and augmentation cystoplasty. My endourology experience includes transurethral resections, ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, bladder neck and botox injections, and mitrofonoscopy.

Following this, I worked in emergency theatres, gaining experience in acute surgical cases, before moving into colorectal, gynaecology, and urology. I currently hold a clinical educator role across these specialties, responsible for developing and delivering educational materials, supporting new staff, and ensuring compliance with mandatory training. I liaise with external training providers to maintain current practice standards and contribute to policy updates based on evidence-based guidelines. I have also supported the implementation and training for a new robotic-assisted surgical service.

In my educator role, I deliver weekly teaching sessions focused on surgical procedures and disease processes, aligned with NHS Wales national optimal pathways and single cancer pathways. I am actively involved in staff development, policy review, and service improvement initiatives.

Professional Development

I completed a Level 7 Mentorship in Practice course at Birmingham City University, developing an online teaching tool to support staff and students in understanding open radical prostatectomy procedures. I maintain my professional development by attending relevant training.