Overview

The Registered Nurse (RN) in the Operating Room (OR) at Riverside Healthcare is responsible for delivering safe, efficient, and compassionate care to surgical patients. This position plays a critical role in the intraoperative phase of care, coordinating with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and surgical technologists to ensure optimal patient outcomes. The OR RN assesses patients needs, implements nursing interventions, and evaluates patient progress throughout the surgical process, all while maintaining strict adherence to regulatory standards and best practices. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical and interpersonal skills, the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and a commitment to excellence in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. Additionally, this position requires flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.

Essential Duties

Preoperative Care:

• Assess patient health status and readiness for surgery through physical examination and medical history review.
• Ensure proper identification of patients and verification of surgical procedures in compliance with safety protocols.

Intraoperative Care:

• Act as a scrub or circulating nurse during surgeries, ensuring the sterile field is maintained, supplies are managed, and all instruments are accounted for.
• Monitor patients vital signs and communicate any concerns to the surgical team promptly.
• Collaborate with the surgical team to anticipate the needs of the surgeon and assist in various surgical procedures.

Postoperative Care:

• Ensure safe transfer of patients from the operating room to the recovery area.
• Provide immediate postoperative care and assessment until the patient is stable.
• Communicate patient status and postoperative care instructions to the recovery room staff.

Safety and Compliance:

• Adhere to infection control policies and maintain a sterile environment.
• Participate in timeouts and other safety checks as required.
• Ensure compliance with all hospital policies, including those related to documentation, patient confidentiality, and safety standards.

Patient Advocacy:

• Serve as a liaison between the patient, family, and healthcare team, ensuring the patients rights are respected and their needs are met.

Flexibility:

• Demonstrate flexibility with assignments and respond promptly to call assignments. Understands that role is not limited to what is listed in the job description, and that team work is defined by doing whatever is necessary to promote efficiencies, and provide safe patient care. 

Non-essential Duties

• Assist in inventory management and stocking of surgical supplies and equipment.
• Participate in staff meetings and continuing education programs.
• Support the OR team in maintaining cleanliness and organization within the operating suite.

Responsibilities

Required Licensure/Education

• Current RN License with the Illinois State Board of Examiners
• *New Graduate RNs starting on or after 1/1/25 must earn Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) within 3 years of start date. 

Preferred Education

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• BSN preferred*

Employee Health Requirements

• Chemicals: Disinfectants, No Tox, Sterilant, glutaraldehyde 
• Video Display Terminals: Average 
• Blood and Body Fluids: Extreme potential for exposure with each surgical procedure. Universal precautions followed on all procedures greatly reducing the risk to the OR personnel.
• TB or Airborne Pathogens: Extreme potential for exposure with each surgical procedure. Universal precautions followed on all procedures greatly reducing the risk to the OR personnel.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch): 

• Speech: Required to communicate with surgeons, anesthesia personnel, patients and co-workers. 
• Vision: Required to assist surgeons with scrubbing and circulating. Many OR procedures require keen visual observation because of the size of suture material used/instrumentation used. It is necessary to perform patient assessment, medical administrations, observe video monitors, etc. 
• Smell: Helpful to note presence of incontinence, vomitus, blood; electrical/fire safety. 
• Hearing: Necessary to hear patient's concerns, to hear surgeons during procedures, to hear intercom for help in a room, hear alarms, and codes. 
• Touch: Necessary to comfort patients, hand instruments during procedures necessary to operate controls on equipment.

Activity/Lifting Requirements:

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 10%
• Twist: 4%
• Stand: 40%
• Crawl: 0%
• Walk: 25%
• Kneel: 1%
• Lift: 10%
• Drive: 0%
• Squat: 1%
• Climb: 1%
• Bend: 30%
• Reach above shoulders: 3%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:

• Up to 10 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 20 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 35 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 60 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 75 lbs: Not Required
• Up to 100 lbs: Not Required
• Over 100 lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.):

Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts/beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Lifting equipment - carry 25'-150' waist high (IV bags, patient trays). Carry charts 25'-150' waist high. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh over 35 lbs. Carry fire extinguishers up or down 3-4 flights of stairs and several yards in an emergency.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:

• Sit: 30
• Twist: 15
• Stand: 60
• Crawl: 0
• Walk: 10
• Kneel: 0
• Lift: 5
• Drive: 0
• Squat: 2
• Climb: 1
• Bend: 15
• Reach above shoulders: 2

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated): 

• Simple grasp up to 10 lbs
• Normal weight: 5lbs 
• Pushing & pulling - 50-200 lbs: Occasionally 
• Fine Manipulation: Typing in computer, omnicell, using pens to chart, drawing up meds in syringe and administration, starting IV's.

Leg Strength - up to 50 lbs: Occasionally

• Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.

Environmental Factors & Special Hazards: 

Environmental Factors (Time Spent): 

• Inside hours: 8-10 
• Outside hours: 0 
• Temperature: Normal 
• Range Lighting: Average 
• Noise levels: Average 
• Humidity: Normal Range 
• Atmosphere: Odors

Special Hazards: Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical - Laser plumes, steris machine sterilant, sterilizer-steam, bovies, other electrical equipment, glutaraldehyde, compressed air tanks, O2, CO2, Nitrous 

Protective Clothing Required: X-ray aprons, thyroid shields, gowns, gloves, masks, shoe covers, goggles, face shields.

Pay Range