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POSITION SUMMARY

The OR Circulating Registered Nurse manages the operating room during every case: the sterile field, the count, the patient’s position, the specimen and the record. A registered nurse circulator is present for the duration of each procedure. The role is the patient’s advocate in a room where the patient cannot speak.

The responsibilities of this position are organized around our operating model: Leadership & Management, Financial Optimization, Operational Efficiency, and Clinical Excellence.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Leadership & Management

Goal: Contribute to a culture of accountability and teamwork in the operating room.

Take ownership of the room: run it, do not just work in it.

Model the center’s standards for conduct, attendance and communication with the surgical team.

Precept and support new circulating staff when assigned.

Complete assigned competencies, annual education and life support certifications on schedule.

Stop the line on any patient safety concern, and use the chain of command when the answer is not right.

2. Financial Optimization

Goal: Protect the center’s financial performance through the decisions this role controls.

Open only what the case needs, and control supply waste at the field.

Capture implants, supplies and billable items accurately in the record at the point of use.

Work with the scrub person to keep surgeon preference cards current so the room is picked correctly the first time.

Document the intraoperative record completely and accurately so the record supports the claim.

Report damaged or malfunctioning equipment promptly rather than working around it.

3. Operational Efficiency

Goal: Deliver the surgical schedule safely and on time.

Prepare and verify equipment, implants and instrumentation before each case.

Drive on-time starts and efficient room turnover with the surgical team.

Coordinate room readiness with sterile processing, materials and the next case’s requirements.

Remove and tag malfunctioning equipment and communicate the effect on the schedule.

4. Clinical Excellence

Goal: Deliver safe intraoperative care that produces excellent patient outcomes.

Lead the pre-procedure verification, confirm the site mark, and lead the time-out with the full team participating.

Perform sponge, sharp and instrument counts with the scrub person at the required intervals, and resolve every discrepancy under policy before the patient leaves the room.

Monitor the sterile field and aseptic technique, and intervene on any break in technique regardless of who caused it.

Position patients safely with pressure point protection appropriate to age and procedure.

Manage specimens: label with two identifiers, confirm aloud, complete the requisition and hand off with documentation.

Respond to intraoperative emergencies, including malignant hyperthermia under the facility response protocol.

Conduct the fire risk assessment during the time-out for any case with an ignition source near an oxidizer.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Current, unencumbered Arizona registered nurse license, or a compact-state license with Arizona practice privileges.

Perioperative experience required; CNOR preferred.

Competent in instrumentation and case flow for interventional pain management, GI endoscopy, orthopedics, total joint arthroplasty, spine surgery and podiatric surgery.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in an ambulatory surgery center. The position requires standing, walking, bending, reaching and lifting or transferring in accordance with safe patient handling practice; visual and auditory acuity sufficient to monitor patients, equipment and alarms; manual dexterity; and the ability to respond to an emergency without delay. Exposure to blood and other potentially infectious material, hazardous chemicals, latex, radiation where imaging is in use, and surgical smoke is expected and is controlled through the center’s safety and infection prevention programs.

Pay: $55.00 - $57.00 per hour

Expected hours: 6.0 – 12.0 per week

Work Location: In person