Operating Room Charge Nurse
About The Position
The Operating Room Charge Nurse provides clinical leadership and coordinates daily operating room activities within an Ambulatory Surgery Center. The role serves as a resource and clinical leader for OR nursing staff, surgical technologists, and other perioperative personnel, with a focus on patient safety, quality, efficiency, regulatory compliance, and exceptional patient care. The Charge Nurse collaborates with surgeons, anesthesia providers, nursing leadership, surgical technology staff, sterile processing, pre-operative/PACU staff, and administrative leadership to support safe and efficient surgical operations. The position includes occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens (Category I), frequent exposure to chemical hazards, and possible exposure to radiation hazards.
Responsibilities
- Provide daily clinical leadership and direction to OR staff and serve as a clinical resource and role model for perioperative team members.
- Promote teamwork, professionalism, accountability, and respectful communication.
- Assist with staff assignments and scheduling based on the surgical schedule, patient acuity, staff competency, and operational needs.
- Provide guidance during complex or unexpected clinical situations.
- Assist with staff orientation, training, competency validation, development, and annual education; identify education needs and communicate them to the Director of Nursing.
- Ensure safe patient care throughout the perioperative process and compliance with facility policies, procedures, standards of practice, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Reinforce surgical safety practices, promptly address and escalate safety concerns or potential adverse events, and assist with incident reporting and follow-up.
- Participate in quality improvement activities, audits, safety initiatives, and corrective action plans.
- Coordinate daily OR activities to support patient flow and on-time starts; review the surgical schedule and anticipate staffing, equipment, instrumentation, implant, and supply needs.
- Communicate schedule changes, delays, cancellations, and operational concerns to appropriate departments and leadership.
- Coordinate with Sterile Processing and Materials Management regarding instrument availability, sterilization concerns, loaner trays, and urgent supply needs.
- Communicate effectively with surgeons, anesthesia providers, physician office staff, and surgical representatives; anticipate needs, address concerns, escalate unresolved issues, and relay changes in patient status, surgical plans, or equipment needs to appropriate providers.
- Monitor staff adherence to policies, procedures, attendance expectations, professional standards, and safe work practices; identify and escalate performance, conduct, or workflow concerns to the Director of Nursing.
- Promote staff accountability and a positive, adaptable, patient-centered work environment.
- Maintain compliance with applicable state, federal, and accreditation requirements and participate in audits and corrective action activities.
- Assist in maintaining staff competency related to emergency procedures.
- Assist the Director of Nursing with daily operational responsibilities and communicate staffing, patient care, equipment, physician, and operational concerns.
- Assist with monitoring OR productivity, turnover times, first-case starts, cancellations, delays, and other operational metrics.
- Participate in staff and leadership meetings, quality initiatives, and performance improvement activities.
- Assist with developing and implementing policies, procedures, and workflow improvements.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
