Registered Nurse – Operating Room Circulator

Full-Time | Surgical Services

What You'll Do

As an Operating Room Circulator RN, you will play a critical role in ensuring safe, efficient, and compassionate care throughout the surgical experience. Serving as the patient's advocate, you will coordinate care before, during, and after procedures while collaborating closely with surgeons, anesthesia providers, surgical technologists, and other members of the perioperative team.

In this role, you will:

• Perform comprehensive preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative patient assessments.
• Serve as the patient's advocate, ensuring safety, privacy, dignity, and emotional support throughout the surgical experience.
• Verify patient identity, surgical procedure, operative site, consent forms, allergies, and all required documentation before surgery.
• Participate in surgical safety initiatives, including surgical time-outs, checklists, and other patient safety protocols.
• Prepare operating rooms by ensuring appropriate equipment, supplies, implants, medications, and instruments are available and functioning properly.
• Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and surgical staff to maintain a safe and efficient operating room environment.
• Monitor patient status throughout procedures and communicate any changes promptly to the surgical and anesthesia teams.
• Assist with patient positioning, skin preparation, grounding, pressure injury prevention, and other patient safety measures.
• Maintain accurate and complete perioperative documentation within the electronic medical record.
• Perform and document surgical counts in collaboration with the scrub person according to organizational policies.
• Properly collect, label, document, and transport specimens.
• Administer medications and treatments within nursing scope of practice and organizational guidelines.
• Anticipate the needs of the surgical team while maintaining focus on patient safety and quality outcomes.
• Assist with room turnover, equipment management, and preparation for upcoming surgical procedures.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, physicians, anesthesia personnel, surgical technologists, and other healthcare professionals.
• Respond appropriately to emergency situations and changes in patient conditions.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, infection prevention efforts, education, and department training activities.
• Maintain compliance with AORN standards, regulatory requirements, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and respect in all interactions.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a skilled and compassionate Registered Nurse who thrives in a fast-paced surgical environment and is committed to delivering exceptional patient care. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about patient advocacy and safety.

Required Education

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing

Preferred Education

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Required Licenses & Certifications

• Current Iowa Registered Nurse (RN) license or license from a reciprocating state
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)

Preferred Experience

• Previous operating room or perioperative nursing experience
• Knowledge of AORN standards and perioperative best practices

Key Skills & Qualifications

• Strong critical thinking and clinical assessment skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
• Ability to remain calm and focused in high-pressure situations
• Commitment to patient safety and quality outcomes
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
• Proficiency in electronic medical record documentation
• Flexibility and accountability in a dynamic surgical environment

Schedule

• Regularly scheduled hours
• Rotating on-call responsibilities for weekends, holidays, late cases, and department needs

Join our Surgical Services team and help provide safe, high-quality care while making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families throughout their surgical journey.