Responsible for the delivery of professional nursing care in the operative setting to patients undergoing surgical or other invasive procedures. To promotes safety and well-being of patients and staff. Provides physical, educational and technical care and support. Demonstrates strong assessment skills both pre and postoperatively. Appropriate assessment includes physical, psychosocial/family, cultural, personal beliefs or restrictions, cognitive abilities, pain and comfort needs. Participates in the development and implementation of policies and procedures. Ensures the availability of all supplies, equipment and instrumentation needed for scheduled cases. Maintains accountability for charges of supplies and equipment in the operating room. Must be able to function as a circulator and/or scrub. Must demonstrate knowledge of perioperative nursing care according to AORN and ASPAN professional standards of care. Requires high degree of responsibility, confidentiality and discretion. Remains calm and effective in stressful situations and takes initiative in emergency situations. Promotes teamwork and functions as a team member providing care that encompasses compassion, collaboration and trust. Possesses a moral obligation to promote the welfare, health and safety of the patient, and to advocate on the patient’s behalf whenever necessary. Demonstrates strong communication and organizational skills and professionalism. Must be able to prioritize, organize, and multi-task. Supports and practices the mission, vision, objectives and goals of the organization.

Job Domains:

1. Circulating

• Review preoperative assessment, provide education to patient and family, transport patient to operating room.
• Ensure proper supplies, equipment, and medications are ready for use.
• Verify name, strength and dosage of medication with scrub personnel.
• Verify patient, procedure, operative site, positioning and equipment correspond.
• Responsible for “timeout” per site verification policy.
• Constant observation for any break of sterile technique.
• Assist anesthesiologist and surgeon with assessment, induction and start of procedure.
• Position patient according to procedure.
• Complete appropriate paperwork including OR Record, pathology, count sheets, etc.
• Record charges and times accurately.
• Assist OR team as needed during procedure.
• Complete competencies to operate any designated equipment.
• Assist anesthesiologist and surgeon at close of case.
• Transport patient to room, give report and assist if necessary.
• Clean and disinfect all tables, counter surfaces, stands, and floor.
• Clean operating room between cases.
• Restock operating room as necessary to meet PAR levels.
• Assist other operating rooms for coverage.
• Prepare cases for next day.
• Revise preference cards and charge sheets as necessary.

1. Scrubbing

• Know principles and methods of sterilization.
• Perform hand scrub according to policy and procedure.
• Arrange instruments and supplies for surgical procedure.
• Maintain integrity of instruments.
• Ensure proper counting of sponges, instruments, and sharps.
• Assist in gowning of other personnel and draping of patient.
• Anticipate surgeon’s needs.
• Pass instruments to surgeon and/or assistant as appropriate.
• Communicate needs to circulators to ensure efficient and uninterrupted progress of procedure.
• Prepare and preserve specimens.
• Verify name, strength and dosage of medication with circulator; confirm and label and place on surgical field.
• Clean and disinfect all tables, counter surfaces, stands and floor.
• May help transport patient and restock the operating room.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of nursing policies and procedures in compliance with licensure and accreditation.
• Knowledge of surgeon preferences, procedures, instrumentation and equipment.
• Verbal skills to effectively listen and communicate.
• Writing skills to document and chart completely and accurately.
• Math skills to calculate drug dosages, count sponges, sutures, sharps, and instrumentation accurately.
• Reading skills to read preference cards, charts, and instructions.
• Demonstrate competency of age specific criteria
• Demonstrate competency in total joint and spine intraoperative nursing

Physical Characteristics:

• See well enough to read written/typed material, monitors, gauges, printouts, computers, etc.
• Speak well enough to communicate with vendors, physicians, coworkers, patients and families.
• Hear well enough to interact with all contacts and to hear alarms and monitor signals.
• Mobility to stand, walk, run, and respond quickly and carefully within the confines of the operating room and also in emergency situations.
• Mobility to bend, stoop, pull, and lift.
• Good eye/hand coordination.
• Ability to push/pull carts, beds, and other equipment.
• Ability to physically assist patients.

Education/Experience:

• Graduate of accredited registered nurse program.
• Valid registered nurse license.
• BLS certification.
• One to three years experience in an operating room setting preferred.

Additional Characteristics:

• Flexible to work unscheduled hours as needed.
• Functions as a member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team, consults and collaborates with colleagues, peers, supervisors and other healthcare providers and promotes respectful relationships among colleagues.
• Delivers care in a non-judgmental, compassionate and nondiscriminatory manner that is sensitive to diversity.
• Delivers care in a manner that preserves and protects patient autonomy, dignity, respect and rights.
• Communicates with patient, family and significant others all aspects of patient’s care.
• Evaluates factors related to safety, effectiveness, and costs to the outcome of optimal patient care.

We value our employees’ time and efforts. Plus, we work to maintain the best possible environment for our employees, where people can learn and grow with the company. We strive to provide a collaborative environment where each person feels encouraged to contribute to our processes, decisions, planning and culture.