Operating Room RN

The Operating Room (OR) Registered Nurse, known as a Perioperative RN, provides intraoperative care to surgical patients in a 6-suite operating room at William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. You will be responsible for all elements of the nursing process—assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation—applied systematically to patients undergoing surgical and invasive procedures.

Clinical Setting

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary surgical team, coordinating care throughout the perioperative continuum. The OR serves multiple surgical specialties, and you will be expected to function proficiently in both circulator and scrub roles across all specialties served by the facility.

Responsibilities

• Circulate cases and scrub cases, at minimum, in your area of specialty
• Plan, direct, and coordinate care for patients undergoing operative and invasive procedures
• Maintain knowledge of current Association of Peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) Standards, VHA Directives, and facility-level guidance
• Ensure sterility of the surgical field and safe, efficient use of instrumentation and equipment
• Protect patients from injury caused by chemical, electrical, mechanical, thermal sources, and extraneous objects
• Perform counting procedures to prevent unintended retained surgical items
• Participate in the Time Out process to ensure correct site, side, and level
• Follow implant and tissue-based product documentation, policy, and procedures
• Manage patient specimens appropriately
• Administer medications safely and correctly
• Perform interventions to maintain patient wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels
• Implement interventions to protect patients from surgical site infection
• Ensure comprehensive, timely, accurate documentation of all perioperative care in the electronic health record
• Review patient history, labs, allergies, and pertinent information before pre-op interviews
• Communicate with family or support persons throughout the case, offering support and information
• Perform computer charting and ordering
• Update surgeon preference cards
• Prepare cases for the following day
• Coordinate with vendors and the Perioperative Business Manager for service-specific needs
• Coordinate with the Perioperative Nurse Educator regarding new procedures and equipment
• Participate in unit and program-level quality improvement processes and initiatives
• Participate in customer service programs

Service Coordinator Duties

You will be assigned to a surgical specialty as a service coordinator. In this role, you will:

• Work with other coordinators to ensure all needs for the surgical specialty are met
• Communicate with surgical staff for case and patient-specific needs
• Communicate with sterile processing service for instrument needs
• Coordinate with the Perioperative Business Manager for new equipment or purchases
• Maintain knowledge of inventory and supplies needed
• Evaluate par levels annually with logistics
• Ensure preference cards are evaluated and updated in a timely manner for changes
• Serve as a resource for staff outside the specialty during orientation and as needed

On-Call Requirements

You are required to participate in the OR on-call rotation to provide patient care for emergency procedures during off-hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Schedule

• Monday through Friday, 6:45 AM to 3:15 PM
• On-call duties required to include holidays, evenings, nights, and weekends
• Telework is not authorized
• This is a full-time, permanent position

Required Qualifications

• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia
• Graduation from a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) at the time of program completion; OR possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration from a foreign nursing school (with formal degree equivalency validation if education is higher than associate degree level); OR completion of a master's level bridge program in nursing with coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in nursing
• English language proficiency in basic written and spoken English
• U.S. citizenship (non-citizens may only be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited)
• Selective Service Registration (for males born after December 31, 1959)
• Pass pre-employment physical examination
• Pass urinalysis screening for illegal drug use
• Pass background and security investigation
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel

Education

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Diploma in Nursing, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field may be used to meet certain grade-level requirements
• Transcripts must be submitted with your application if education is used to meet qualification requirements
• Foreign education must include a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or higher degree
• Recent experience as an RN in an operating room
• Scrub experience
• CNOR (Certified Nurse Operating Room) certification

Physical Requirements

• Walking, bending, stooping, and some lifting in direct patient care
• Extended periods of sitting
• Ability to wear a lead apron for extended periods

Conditions of Employment

• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Selected applicants must complete an online onboarding process
• This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status
• Relocation expenses are not reimbursed
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) is not authorized
• Recruitment incentives are not authorized
• Financial disclosure report is not required
• Travel is not required

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range: $86,212 to $148,993 per year
• Grade and salary are determined based on education, scope, and length of nursing practice
• Comprehensive federal benefits package available
• Eligibility for benefits depends on position type and full-time, part-time, or intermittent status

Area of Consideration

1. Current permanent employees of Madison VA Hospital including Baraboo, Beaver Dam, Rockford, Freeport, and Janesville CBOCs

2. Current permanent employees of the VA

3. U.S. Citizens

Veterans' Preference

Preference-eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualifications are approximately equal. Eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5-point (TP), 10-point (CP/CPS/XP), or Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. Disabled Veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference must submit an SF-15 Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference with required proof.