Registered Nurse (Per Diem Day RN) Operating Room

About the role

At RWJBarnabas Health, our Operating Room Registered Nurses play an essential role in creating a safe, coordinated, and patient-centered surgical experience. As a Per Diem Operating Room RN, you'll provide specialized perioperative nursing care before, during, and after surgical procedures while working closely with surgeons and an experienced multidisciplinary team. Whether supporting the surgical team as a circulating or scrub nurse, you'll combine strong clinical judgment, technical expertise, and attention to detail to protect patient safety and keep each procedure moving efficiently. This is an opportunity to bring your perioperative skills to a collaborative environment where safety, teamwork, and clinical excellence are central to every surgical experience.

Responsibilities

As a Per Diem Operating Room Registered Nurse (RN), a typical day may include:

• Assessing patients' physiological and emotional needs and developing individualized nursing plans to support safe perioperative care
• Providing circulating and scrub nursing support during surgical procedures while anticipating the needs of surgeons and other members of the surgical team
• Preparing the Operating Room with the instruments, supplies, sutures, and equipment required for each scheduled procedure
• Applying aseptic and sterile techniques and maintaining the sterile field in accordance with infection prevention, OSHA, and perioperative standards
• Assisting with patient positioning, skin preparation, and draping while advocating for patient safety, dignity, and comfort throughout the surgical experience
• Monitoring patients during the intraoperative period and accurately documenting assessments, interventions, surgical activities, and other required information
• Performing surgical counts, handling specimens appropriately, and following established protocols to promote patient safety
• Inspecting and operating surgical equipment and instrumentation while completing required quality control, routine testing, and safety checks
• Coordinating instrument and supply needs, maintaining accurate inventory and tray information, and collaborating with Central Supply to minimize delays in patient care
• Supporting efficient room preparation and turnover to help facilitate timely surgical starts and case progression
• Collaborating with surgeons, nurses, surgical technologists, and other healthcare professionals to troubleshoot clinical, equipment, staffing, and workflow needs
• Supporting new team members through onboarding, mentorship, and clinical guidance while contributing to quality improvement and High Reliability practices

Qualifications

To be considered for this Per Diem Operating Room Registered Nurse opportunity, you must hold an active New Jersey Registered Nurse (RN) license and current BLS certification.

Skills

• Strong perioperative assessment and clinical skills
• Knowledge of sterile and aseptic technique
• Attention to detail, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork
• Ability to safely manage surgical equipment, instrumentation, and supplies
• Flexibility in supporting departmental needs and participating in required on-call coverage

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
• Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) credential
• Prior Operating Room experience

Pay

$48.29 - $67.04 per hour

Schedule

Per Diem, Day shift