Northwestern Memorial Hospital is an academic medical center in the heart of downtown Chicago with physicians, surgeons and caregivers representing nearly every medical specialty. Northwestern Medicine is proud to have five hospitals ranked among "America’s Best," including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the only Illinois hospital to be ranked No. 1 for 14 straight years, by U.S. News & World Report, 2025-2026. Anchored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which is nationally ranked in 11 clinical specialties, we're leading the quest for better care in the Chicago area and beyond.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital enjoys a teaching and service partnership with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, an integration that provides patients access to leading-edge clinical trials and fosters an environment of world-class patient care, academic inquiry and innovative research. Northwestern Memorial Hospital has also received Magnet® recognition*, the gold-standard for nursing excellence, from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

Candidates must have at least three years of medical/surgical, PACU, or critical care work experience in order to be considered for this position. This is a full-time day shift position, 0.9 FTE, 36 hours per week, rotating Monday through Saturday schedule, with no holidays or call requirements. The schedule is 7:00am-7:30pm, with a Monday 11:00am-7:30pm + Saturday 7:00am-11:30am every other week. No Sundays.

The Galter Surgical Recovery Observation Unit (SROU) is a multifaceted surgical observation unit that provides exceptional care to ambulatory post-surgical patients with a high concentration in urological, endocrine, ENT, and minor general surgery procedures. Our nurses work collaboratively in the 10-bed observation unit to ensure that the patient has all the resources to be a successful short-stay patient beginning their care from the time that they arrive on the unit. This fast-paced, high patient turnover observation unit allows the nurses to advance their skillset with the use of critical thinking skills to provide evidence-based comprehensive nursing care while focusing on the importance of patient education upon discharge.

Specialty surgeries include:

• Urological
• Endocrinology
• ENT
• Minor general surgery

In addition, the unit offers an environment that supports teamwork and collaboration from all members of the interdisciplinary team. The Galter SROU nurses have the opportunity to get involved through departmental quality committees and contribute to advancements in our evidence-based nursing care by participating in our LEAD (Lead, Excel, and Develop) program. The Galter SROU provides opportunities for professional growth and development and encourages lifelong learning to continue career advancement in the nursing field.

The Pre/Post-Op Clinical Nurse reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Responsibilities:

Advocate:

• Practices in accordance with the patient centered care model.
• Develops an individualized age-specific culturally sensitive nursing plan of care for the patient that is based on the nursing process.
• Incorporates the role of patient advocate into the plan of care.
• Uses a team approach to develop and achieve daily patient-centered individualized care goals.
• Acknowledges and values the contributions of the patients significant others as an integral part of the plan of care.
• Identifies potential conflict situations and facilitates resolution using established communication channels.
• Promotes and strives to protect the health, safety and rights of the patient.
• Protects patients by maintaining a safe environment.
• Participate in research-related activities which includes evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives.
• Practices safe surgery specific post-operative care to include assessment, potential complications and discharge teaching.
• Identifies potential pre-anesthetic surgical risks factors.

Clinical Expert:

• Advances clinical expertise, as demonstrated through pursuit of informal and formal continuing education opportunities and obtaining specialty certification when eligible.
• Continuously enhances skills and abilities to ensure the highest quality patient care.
• Shares knowledge and expertise through educating team members, patients and students.
• Demonstrates critical thinking by integrating theoretical knowledge and expertise to pose relevant clinical questions when evidence and practice differ.
• Identifies priorities, sets realistic and measurable goals, prescribes and implements nursing interventions in a safe and timely manner.
• Develops and implements individualized education plans for patients and families using suitable instructional materials and methods.
• Evaluates and documents the patients responses to nursing interventions in the health record and properly individualizes the plan of care based on the evaluation of findings.
• Identifies situations that require further intervention and escalates appropriately; consults appropriate experts and resources when needed.
• Participates in the formation, implementation and evaluation of team goals.
• Appropriately delegates and supervises interventions to implement the plan of care.
• Conveys complete, timely and accurate information at hand off at the bedside or any hand off.
• Adheres to ethical standards of practice.
• Possess the knowledge to intervene in the event of a complication or undesired outcome.

Community Volunteer:

• Participates in one or more volunteer initiatives annually, Northwestern Memorial organized or on his/her own.

Compassionate:

• Consistently demonstrates interpersonal connections with patients and families from introduction through discharge.
• Proactively responds to patient concerns such as speaking to patients about possible/expected delays in plan of care.
• Treats patients, families, visitors and staff in a caring manner with respect and dignity.
• Facilities recovery and where appropriate helps ensure a peaceful death for patients.

Professionally Engaged:

• Is a member of a professional organization or participates on an Northwestern Memorial committee or taskforce at the hospital-wide, departmental, or unit level.
• Demonstrates accountability and collaborative practice with co-workers, other disciplines, and departments.
• Assumes responsibility for continued professional growth and education reflecting knowledge and understanding of current nursing practice.
• Serves as a community mentor for team members.
• Serves as a preceptor for new team members.
• Participates in the peer feedback process by conducting a constructive assessment and evaluation of peer performance.
• Works collaboratively with all hospital services to accomplish daily work and maintain an environment of excellence.
• Participates in the development of policies, procedures and systems to support safe and effective care and advance nursing practice at NMH through the Shared Leadership Process.
• Assumes personal responsibility for meeting internal (i.e. Best People profile, ELMs, CPR, and health requirements) and external regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Identifies opportunities for innovation and quality improvement; participates in innovation projects and the quality improvement process, including unit based quality committees.
• Demonstrates accountability to Northwestern Memorial strategic, operational and fiscal goals.
• Exemplifies a professional image in appearance and communications.
• Maintains and advances the professional image of nursing and the practice of professional nursing through an ongoing analysis of resources: Professional Organizations, literature, electronic resources, etc.

AA/EOE

Required:

• Graduate of an NLN accredited school/college of nursing.
• Baccalaureate degree in Nursing or higher.
• Current State of Illinois, Registered Professional Nurse license.
• Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation recognition (healthcare provider level).
• Analytic ability (conceptual and quantitative).
• Oral, listening and written communication skills.
• Strong human relation skills to interact effectively and collaborate with others in difficult situations.
• An essential function of this job is the ability to lift/carry weight of up to 35 pounds.
• An essential function of this job is the ability to push/pull with 50 pounds of force.

Preferred:

• Experience in specific clinical area.
• Nursing specialty certification, if eligible.

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. 

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.