RN – Director of Nursing, Operating Room (Level 4)

Job Title: RN – Director of Nursing, Operating Room (Level 4)

Requisition Class: NURSING : N02LT : RN3L4 : RN – OR
Location: W.W. Hastings Hospital, Cherokee Nation
Engagement Type: Contract / Contract-to-Perm (Perm Preferred)
Start Date: 12/08/2025
End Date: 03/14/2026
Hours: 8 hours/day, 5 days/week

Position Summary

The RN Director of Nursing – Operating Room oversees and manages all perioperative nursing services, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality care before, during, and after surgical procedures. This leader is responsible for OR operations, staffing, clinical quality, compliance, budgeting, and strategic development of the surgical services department.

The Director provides strong clinical leadership, fosters professional development, ensures adherence to regulatory standards, and works collaboratively with surgeons, anesthesia teams, and hospital administration to deliver exceptional patient outcomes.

Key ResponsibilitiesOperational Leadership

• Oversee daily OR operations, staffing, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Ensure efficient patient flow and timely case turnover.
• Monitor and optimize OR utilization, productivity, and clinical performance metrics.

Clinical Oversight

• Provide clinical supervision and support during preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases.
• Ensure compliance with evidence-based standards, surgical protocols, and safety guidelines.
• Evaluate and improve clinical practices, infection control standards, and patient safety initiatives.

Team Development & Management

• Recruit, train, mentor, and evaluate perioperative nursing staff.
• Promote continuous education, certification, and professional growth.
• Build a high-performing surgical nursing team aligned with organizational goals.

Administrative & Strategic Management

• Develop and manage departmental budgets, staffing plans, and operational strategies.
• Collaborate with leadership on long-term goals for OR and perioperative services.
• Participate in hospital committees, quality improvement programs, and performance reviews.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure adherence to federal, state, and tribal regulations, accreditation standards, and hospital policies.
• Maintain documentation, audits, credentialing, and regulatory compliance for the OR department.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) required.
• Master’s Degree (MA, MSN, MHA, MBA) highly preferred.
• Current RN License (Oklahoma or compact eligible).
• Minimum 10 years of nursing experience, including:
• Extensive perioperative/OR nursing background
• OR leadership or Director-level experience
• Strong knowledge of perioperative standards, AORN guidelines, and surgical workflows.

Required Certifications

• BLS – Basic Life Support
• ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• PALS – Pediatric Advanced Life Support
• NIH Stroke Certification

(All must be active and current.)

Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop nursing teams.
• Strong decision-making and critical-thinking capabilities.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and conflict-management skills.
• Proficiency in EMR systems and OR scheduling software.
• Strong understanding of budget management, compliance, and quality improvement.
• Ability to perform under pressure and handle complex clinical operations.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Frequent walking, standing, lifting, and assisting with patient positioning.
• Exposure to surgical environments, sterile fields, bodily fluids, and OR equipment.
• Ability to work in fast-paced settings with high attention to detail.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• Long-term commitment with interest in transitioning from contract to permanent.
• Strong leadership presence with a collaborative, team-focused approach.
• Experience in tribal healthcare environments is a plus.

Pay: $120,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Application Question(s):

• Contract to perm

Experience:

• DON: 10 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• ACLS Certification (Required)
• BLS Certification (Required)
• PALS Certification (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $120,000 - $150,000