Registered Nurse (RN) - Operating Room

Northfield Hospital + Clinics is a trusted, independent healthcare system with more than 800 employees. We’re recognized for our collaborative work environment and strong commitment to high-quality patient care and community impact. Our services span the full spectrum of hospital and clinical care, with locations throughout the south metro and southern Minnesota.

About the role

The Operating Room RN’s primary focus is addressing the needs of the surgical patient, families and/or significant others preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively. Utilizing critical thinking skills to apply nursing process knowledge to achieve optimal patient outcomes, this position provides direct nursing care to patients of all ages.

Responsibilities

• Assesses the health status of the patient in order to develop an individualized plan of care by collecting, categorizing, and interpreting data (physical and psychosocial) from documented information, observation, patient/family interview, and other health care team members.
• Develops a nursing care plan based on the assessment of the patient that includes nursing diagnosis, patient goals, and nursing interventions necessary to achieve these goals.
• Implements the nursing care plan to provide optimal individualized care for the patient.
• Instructs the patient and family to assist the patient in the achievement of optimal health status.
• Documents nursing activities to provide a permanent record, for continuity of care, quality improvement, and professional accountability.
• Identifies the patient to ensure that the patient, procedures, and operative site correspond.
• Plans, supervises, and assists with the transfer of the patient to protect the patient and personnel from injury.
• Positions the patient to provide access to the operative site while maximizing patient safety and comfort.
• Establishes and maintains a surgically clean environment to reduce the potential for infection by applying the principles of asepsis, decontamination, disinfection, sanitation, sterilization, and environmental monitoring.
• Establishes and maintains a sterile field to reduce potential for infection by teaching and supervising the application of principles of aseptic techniques and continual monitoring of the sterile field.
• Establishes and maintains a safe environment to protect the patient and the health care team by monitoring the patient (physiologically and psychologically) and the environment and by implementing safety procedures.
• Coordinates support services needed during surgery by anticipating and communicating patient and surgical team needs.
• Communicates information to patient/family.
• Organizes and coordinates supplies, equipment, and team members to maintain an efficient, effective and safe intraoperative environment through ongoing patient and situation assessment, priority setting, procurement of supplies, and arrangement of equipment, by teaching, directing, communicating, and collaborating with health care team members and support service personnel.
• Communicates information to recovery room personnel to promote continuity of care.
• Evaluates effectiveness of nursing care to determine degree of goal attainment by comparing patient outcomes with patient goals. Contributes to the discharge plan.
• Selects and executes appropriate methods for cleaning, packaging, sterilizing, and disinfecting to ensure patient safety by applying principles of sterilization and disinfection and by following packaging guidelines set by regulating agencies and manufacturers.
• Evaluates products to determine their safety, effectiveness, use and cost effectiveness.
• Executes nursing activities to provide life support in an emergency by taking appropriate action and/or providing direction/assistance to health care team members.
• Handles hazardous pharmaceutical waste in accordance with hospital protocol, including properly disposing of hazardous wastes, ensuring hazardous waste disposal containers are closed, and recognizing any hazardous waste spills or emergencies and contacting the hospital’s hazardous waste coordinator accordingly.
• Initiates appropriate intraoperative behaviors as a circulator/scrub.
• Demonstrates proficiency in computer use for documentation and communication. Maintains knowledge of clinical information systems updates.

Requirements

• Current RN license with the Minnesota Board of Nursing, in good standing
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) BLS certification for Health Care Providers (if not current, will need to be obtained in the first 6 months, company paid)
• Current certifications in ACLS, PALS or PEARS, CPI, or willingness to obtain within 6 months of start date, company paid
• Ability to interpret basic EKG
• Knowledge of the function and use of patient monitoring equipment
• One-year perioperative nursing experience, i.e. scrubbing and circulating for a variety of procedures preferred
• Knowledge of AORN recommended practices preferred

Pay

The hourly rate is $55.99. This reflects the base wage for this position.

Schedule

• Varying Days/Shifts
• Weekdays: Start and end times vary between 6:45 AM and 3:15 PM
• Casual staff work based on availability and departmental staffing needs
• Optional: Casual staff may volunteer to cover on-call hours if interested

Benefits

• Eligible for Shift Differential Pay in addition to base wage
• Earned Safe and Sick Time (ESST) accrued on first paycheck
• Pension Plan (PERA) with 7.5% employer match
• Optional 457(b) Retirement Plans
• Loan Forgiveness Eligibility – PSLF + MN state programs for qualifying roles
• Employer-Provided Certifications + Continuing Education
• Free On-Site Parking
• Qualified Bilingual Staff Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounts on cafeteria, scrubs, and OTC pharmacy items