Registered Nurse - Operating Room (Intermittent)

Veterans Health Administration • Fayetteville, AR

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse is responsible and accountable for the nursing process while delivering and supervising direct patient care. The nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age-specific needs, using a holistic approach. The position coordinates care, patient education, and self-management across the continuum of care, with a focus on patient outcomes and satisfaction.

The nurse delivers comprehensive, evidence-based care for surgical, invasive, non-invasive, and endoscopy procedures. The role independently plans, directs, and coordinates care for complex patients in perioperative settings, including the operating room, ambulatory surgery, and endoscopy units as needed. It requires proficiency in circulating and scrubbing across surgical specialties, safe management of the sterile field, instrumentation and equipment, accurate counts, participation in surgical time-outs, and documentation of implants, tissue products, and specimens. The nurse also assesses patients before endoscopy, provides education, documents findings, prepares and maintains endoscopy equipment, recognizes changes in condition, and initiates emergency responses when needed.

The position collaborates with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams to support safe transitions of care and patient goals. It includes leadership, communication, informal feedback, colleague development, quality improvement, and support for evidence-based practice. The nurse addresses patient experience concerns and must adapt to schedule changes and respond promptly during assigned on-call periods. The role is intermittent, with a stated schedule of Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., excluding holidays and weekends; the schedule may change based on facility needs. Telework is not available.

Candidates must meet VA nursing education and licensure requirements, including graduation from an appropriately accredited nursing program or an applicable exception, and current, full, active, unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. state or territory or the District of Columbia. Basic written and spoken English proficiency is required. Grade assignment depends on education, professional nursing experience, and the applicable grade-level dimensions. Physical requirements may include standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. Work is performed in an office/clinic setting, sometimes in stressful situations, and may require personal protective equipment and annual TB screening or testing.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from a professional nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE, or an applicable education exception described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; an applicable Graduate Nurse Technician exception is described.
• Meet the education and professional nursing experience requirements for the assigned VA grade and level.
• Ability to adapt to schedule changes and respond promptly during assigned on-call periods.
• Ability to perform physical activities that may include standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Selected applicants must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and are subject to applicable background/security investigation and drug-testing requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required; annual TB screening or testing may be required.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and supervise comprehensive, evidence-based nursing care for surgical, invasive, non-invasive, and endoscopy procedures.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care based on patient needs, including age-specific needs, and coordinate care for complex perioperative patients.
• Work in operating room, ambulatory surgery, and endoscopy settings as needed.
• Maintain proficiency in circulating and scrubbing roles across surgical specialties and follow AORN standards, VHA directives, and institutional procedures.
• Lead staff participation in planning, decision-making, and evaluation of outcomes in the immediate practice setting.
• Communicate effectively with patients, colleagues, and other stakeholders to support safe and effective outcomes.
• Maintain the sterile surgical field; safely manage instruments and equipment; and perform accurate counts to prevent retained surgical items.
• Participate in the surgical Time Out process to verify the correct site, side, and level, and document implants, tissue products, and specimens according to protocols.
• Assess patients' physical and mental status before endoscopy; provide procedural and post-procedural education; and document responses and findings.
• Coordinate with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams to facilitate safe transitions of care aligned with patient goals.
• Foster a safe and supportive environment, provide informal feedback, share educational findings, and encourage professional development among colleagues.
• Participate in quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and team discussions to improve holistic care.
• Maintain, clean, and prepare endoscopy-specific equipment.
• Recognize changes in patient condition and initiate appropriate emergency responses.
• Address patient experience concerns involving care coordination, timeliness, processes, dissatisfaction, or the care environment.
• Adapt to schedule changes and respond promptly during assigned on-call periods in accordance with facility response-time policies.
• Treat patients, visitors, volunteers, and Medical Center staff courteously, tactfully, and respectfully.

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 and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: Associate degree