Operating Room RN (Scrub Nurse)

Veterans Health Administration • Madison, WI

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN), also known as a Perioperative RN, provides and coordinates nursing care for surgical patients before, during, and after surgery in a six-unit operating room. The nurse is accountable for patient outcomes and applies the nursing process—including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation—in a systematic manner while providing or supervising direct patient care. The role plans, directs, and coordinates care for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures, respecting each patient and the contributions of the care team.

The nurse must be proficient in either the circulator or scrub role and competent in the surgical specialties served. The position includes circulating and scrubbing cases, at minimum within the nurse’s area of specialty; computer charging and ordering; updating surgeon preference cards; preparing cases for the following day; coordinating with vendors and the Perioperative Business Manager on service-specific needs; and coordinating staff in-services on new procedures and equipment with the Perioperative Nurse Educator.

The nurse maintains knowledge of current AORN standards, VHA directives, and facility/service guidance. The role includes maintaining surgical-field sterility; using instruments and equipment safely and efficiently; protecting patients from injury; performing counts to prevent retained surgical items; participating in the Time Out process to verify the correct site, side, and level; following implant and tissue-product documentation and procedures; managing specimens; administering medication safely and correctly; and maintaining wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels.

The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 0645–1515, with on-call duties that include rotating holidays. Telework is not available. Permanent Change of Station is not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, subject to the stated VA education provisions and exceptions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; the posting describes a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician exception for eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the applicable VA Nurse grade and level.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements, including walking, bending, stooping, some lifting, possible extended periods of sitting, and wearing a lead apron for an extended period.
• U.S. citizenship, except where non-citizens may be appointed under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, including urinalysis for applicants selected for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, and pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete required onboarding and application requirements.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Recent Operating Room experience as a Scrub Nurse.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• CNOR recognition.

Responsibilities

• Provide and coordinate care for surgical patients before, during, and after surgery.
• Apply the nursing process through ongoing assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation when providing or supervising direct patient care.
• Plan, direct, and coordinate care for patients undergoing operative and other invasive procedures.
• Function proficiently as a circulator or scrub nurse and demonstrate competence in the surgical specialties served.
• Circulate cases and scrub cases at minimum within the nurse’s area of specialty.
• Perform computer charging and ordering and update surgeon preference cards.
• Prepare cases for the following day and coordinate with vendors and the Perioperative Business Manager regarding service-specific needs.
• Coordinate staff in-services on new procedures and equipment with the Perioperative Nurse Educator.
• Maintain knowledge of current AORN standards, VHA directives, and facility/service-level guidance.
• Maintain sterility of the surgical field and use instrumentation and equipment safely and efficiently.
• Protect patients from injury caused by chemical, electrical, mechanical, or thermal sources and extraneous objects.
• Perform counting procedures to prevent unintended retained surgical items.
• Participate in the Time Out process to ensure the correct site, side, and level; follow implant and tissue/tissue-based product documentation, policies, and procedures.
• Manage patient specimens appropriately, administer medications safely and correctly, and perform interventions to maintain wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 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
• Education Level: Associate degree