Operating Room Registered Nurse

Veterans Health Administration • Iowa City, IA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Iowa City VA Medical Center is recruiting an Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN) to plan, direct, and coordinate care for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures. The position provides accountable, outcome-based perioperative nursing care and coordinates care in collaboration with the surgical team, while respecting each patient's individuality. The nurse functions in circulator and scrub roles across surgical specialties and follows Association of periOperative Registered Nurse (AORN) standards, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) directives, and service-level procedures.

The role includes maintaining a sterile surgical field; safely using instruments and equipment; protecting patients from injury; performing counts to prevent retained surgical items; participating in the surgical Time Out; managing implants, tissues, products, and specimens; administering medications; supporting wound and tissue perfusion; preventing surgical-site infections; and completing accurate, timely electronic health record documentation. The nurse participates in on-call coverage during off-tour hours for emergency surgical procedures.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. During call weeks, the shift is 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling, telework, and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or an applicable qualifying nursing education pathway described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered professional nurse license in a U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician exception is described for eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the applicable VA Nurse grade and level requirements for education, experience, and dimensions of practice.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Selected applicants are subject to pre-employment drug testing, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation or examination.
• Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required.
• Complete the required online onboarding and application documentation; applicants may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.

Nice To Haves

• Operating room experience.
• Procedural and nurse monitoring care experience.
• CNOR certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide accountable, outcome-based perioperative nursing care for patients undergoing surgical and invasive procedures.
• Plan, direct, and coordinate perioperative care in collaboration with the surgical team while respecting patient individuality.
• Function in circulator and scrub roles across surgical specialties.
• Maintain knowledge of AORN standards, VHA directives, and service-level operating procedures.
• Maintain sterility of the surgical field and use instruments and equipment safely and efficiently.
• Protect patients from chemical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal injury and extraneous objects.
• Perform counting procedures to prevent unintended retained surgical items.
• Participate in the Time Out process to verify the correct patient, site, side, and procedure.
• Follow documentation requirements and policies for implants, tissue, and tissue-based products.
• Manage and process patient specimens appropriately.
• Administer medications safely and accurately.
• Perform interventions to maintain wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline.
• Implement measures to prevent surgical-site infections.
• Complete comprehensive, timely, and accurate perioperative documentation in the electronic health record.
• Participate in on-call coverage during off-tour hours to support emergency surgical procedures.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree