Registered Nurse - Operating Room

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC)•Sitka, AK

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) provides professional nursing care across the lifespan in accordance with organizational standards, policies, and evidence-based practice. The RN utilizes the nursing process to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care while delivering high-quality, culturally sensitive, and patient-centered services. The RN collaborates with providers and interdisciplinary teams to promote optimal patient outcomes, safety, and positive patient experience. A circulator nurse coordinates perioperative workflow outside the sterile field by preparing the patient, verifying documentation, ensuring equipment readiness, completing safety checklists, and facilitating communication among the surgical team. They serve as the patient’s advocate while maintaining situational awareness, anticipating needs, supporting sterile staff, and documenting key intraoperative events to keep the surgical environment safe and efficient. Circulator nurses are required to participate in on‑call coverage to support urgent and emergent surgical cases. SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. The organization prioritizes employee development and professional advancement. Working at SEARHC is described as a fulfilling career with generous benefits. SEARHC is passionate about enhancing the health and wellbeing of its team and the communities it serves, embodying values of Respect, Cultural Identity, Service, Professionalism, and Compassion.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in Nursing from an accredited program
Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the State of Alaska
Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) are all required
Clinical competency required within 3 months and every 3 years
High Risk Competency required within 3 months and every year
New Nursing Program Graduates: BLS required at the time of hire
All certifications required for the area of practice must be obtained within six (6) months of hire (e.g., ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, ENPC, as applicable)
Experienced nurses entering a new specialty must obtain all required specialty‑specific and advanced certifications within six (6) months of hire (e.g., ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, ENPC, based on practice area requirements)
Nurses hired directly into a specialty area must provide evidence of current required certifications for the position at the time of hire (e.g., ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, ENPC, as applicable to practice area)
Nurses who float to areas other than their primary location must complete the required certifications for the highest level specialty in which they will provide care
High‑risk competency validation is required for direct patient care nursing roles
Knowledge of nursing principles, evidence-based practice, medication safety, and infection prevention
Strong clinical judgment, organization, prioritization, and communication skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
Proficiency with electronic health records and clinical systems

Responsibilities

Performs comprehensive patient assessments and develops individualized plans of care
Implements and evaluates nursing interventions and patient responses
Administers medications and treatments safely and accurately per provider orders and policy
Recognizes changes in patient condition and initiates appropriate interventions or escalation of care
Provides patient and family education related to care, medications, and discharge needs
Delivers culturally responsive, patient-centered care
Perform and interpret comprehensive assessments and recognize significant changes in patient condition requiring nursing intervention or provider notification
Exercise independent nursing judgment in determining appropriate nursing actions, interventions, and priorities, and in identifying when consultation, collaboration, or escalation to a licensed independent provider is required
Develop, implement, evaluate, and revise individualized nursing plans of care based on patient needs, responses, preferences, and clinical circumstances, rather than relying solely on standardized protocols
Integrate clinical findings with ethical principles, cultural considerations, patient safety standards, and regulatory requirements when making nursing decisions
Accept accountability for nursing decisions, delegated tasks, and outcomes of nursing care in accordance with Alaska statutes, regulations, and organizational policy
Collaborates with providers and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care
Facilitates referrals, follow-up care, and continuity of services
Documents assessments, interventions, and outcomes accurately and timely in the electronic health record
Advocates for patient care and assists patients in navigating the healthcare system
Practices within nursing scope of practice and adheres to regulatory, safety, and infection prevention requirements
Participates in quality and performance improvement activities
Maintains required competencies and certifications
Reports adverse events, near misses, and unsafe conditions per policy
Demonstrates professionalism, accountability, flexibility, and teamwork
Provides appropriate guidance and delegation to ancillary staff
Supports orientation, mentoring, and education of staff, students, and peers
Floats to other departments or assignments as needed
Coordinates perioperative workflow outside the sterile field by preparing the patient, verifying documentation, ensuring equipment readiness, completing safety checklists, and facilitating communication among the surgical team
Serve as the patient’s advocate while maintaining situational awareness, anticipating needs, supporting sterile staff, and documenting key intraoperative events to keep the surgical environment safe and efficient
Participate in on‑call coverage to support urgent and emergent surgical cases