OR Circulating Nurse

Job Title: Circulating Nurse

Location:
Valentine NE

Position: Full-Time

Benefit Eligible: Yes

Report To: Operating Room Manager

Cherry County Hospital is seeking an experienced Operating Room Registered Nurse to join our surgical services team in our critical access hospital located in Valentine, NE. This position is ideal for a confident, adaptable RN who thrives in a collaborative environment and is prepared to respond to a wide range of patient procedures and emergent situations.

The OR RN functions at the level of RN circulator , providing direct patient care to pediatric through geriatric populations. On-call responsibilities are shared and rotated with equitable distribution of weekends and holidays.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Providing safe, high-quality perioperative nursing care as an RN circulator
• Collaborating with surgical technologists to assemble, open, and manage sterile supplies and equipment
• Managing the non-sterile field and monitoring the sterile field throughout surgical procedures
• Assisting with endoscopic and arthroscopic procedures and troubleshooting equipment as needed
• Responding effectively to surgical emergencies and changing patient needs
• Practicing within AORN standards and State Board of Nursing rules and regulations

This is an excellent opportunity to practice broad-based perioperative nursing, develop strong clinical autonomy, and make a meaningful impact in a supportive rural healthcare setting.

Candidate must demonstrate aptitude for proper operation of OR equipment/technology in multiple specialties

• Individual must be well organized, with exceptional skill in planning and preparation for expected events
• Knowledge of surgical procedure and ability to access and research appropriate knowledge bases for information
• Ability to quickly adjust to changes in patient focused events
• Solid understanding of patient safety and precautions
• Candidate must possess general clinical competency in circulating nursing for Ophthalmology, Orthopedics (total joint replacements and arthroscopic procedures), Urology, ENT, General Surgery, GI (Endoscopy), Podiatry, Pediatric Dental procedures, Cesarean Sections and related OB/GYN procedures
• Experience in Post Anesthesia Care and Recovery of surgical patients preferred
• Current Nebraska Registered Nurse license; ACLS & BLS required certification, PALS preferred or competent in the care of

Essential Duties and Responsibilities – Pre-Operative: Procedures

Standard Procedures

• Follow standard procedures for surgical/procedural intervention, adapting for surgeon and anesthesia preference.
• Adapts procedures to meet individual needs of pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients.
• Verifies all patient information; name procedure, equipment, allergies, implanted devices, implants, correct position, side and surgical site
• Use preference cards, as needed, updating regularly as changes occur.

Readiness

• Ready and prepared consistently for assigned cases; does not cause delay of case; minimize turnover time.
• Assists in opening surgical supplies in a sterile fashion, observes sterile field for breaks or contamination and assists the scrub personnel to be gowned and ready for patient arrival.
• Assures that the surgical scrub is prepared with appropriate instrumentation, medications and surgical counts are completed

Pre-Op Care and Preparation

• Ensure pre-op checklist is complete and all consents are signed, lab results are documented, site is signed-if appropriate, review history and physical and confirm it is within 30 days of procedure before patient is taken into surgical suite.
• Confirm availability of blood products if ordered
• Coordinate and supervise patient care; provide patient and family with teaching/education as necessary. Approach patient/family in a kind, gentle, and friendly manner while protecting patient sensitivities and right to privacy.
• Compassion and caring should be demonstrated at all times.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities – Intra-Operative: Initial Assessment

• Brings patient to the OR suite and introduces patient to staff, assists patient to OR table and completes initial timeout.
• Demonstrate knowledge of anesthetic drugs, actions, and side effects; and knowledge of
• IV conscious sedation/or medications (actions and delivery). Understands induction process, complications of anesthesia, malignant hyperthermia risks and treatment.
• Identifies induction and intubation supplies used and their location. Stays with patient at head of bed, assisting with anesthesia until released from duty by provider.

Surgical Knowledge

• Demonstrate thorough knowledge of location, care, and operation of surgical equipment/instruments.
• Positions patients safely; pads and protects bony prominences and protecting nerves.
• Performs skin shave and prep according to surgeon preference, observes and assists surgical scrub to drape correctly for all procedures. Carry out medical and surgical asepsis all procedures.
• Has a strong knowledge of procedure and is able to anticipate needs of the…