Staff Registered Nurse - Operating Room

Full-time, 0.8 FTE (4 days per week, 8-hour shifts 7:00am–3:30pm). Rotating on-call schedule for weekends and holidays.

About the role

The Operating Room (OR) Registered Nurse (RN) functions as a vital member of the perioperative team, working collaboratively with anesthesiologists, surgeons, surgical technologists, and other interdisciplinary personnel to ensure safe, high-quality surgical care. The OR RN provides expert pre-, intra-, and post-operative nursing care and serves as the patient’s advocate at a time when the patient is least able to speak for or protect themselves.

The Registered Nurse is responsible for comprehensive nursing practice, including assessing the health status of individuals and groups; formulating nursing diagnoses; establishing patient-centered goals; and developing, implementing, and evaluating plans of care. The RN prescribes and delegates nursing interventions consistent with the Vermont Nurse Practice Act, supervises others as appropriate, and ensures a safe environment that supports optimal patient outcomes. The role includes patient and family education as well as collaboration with all members of the health-care team to coordinate effective perioperative management.

The Operating Room RN is expected to competently perform both circulating and scrub responsibilities.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s Perioperative Services include Endoscopy, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Podiatry, Urology, and General Surgery service lines, providing a diverse and dynamic clinical environment.

Department scope of service

Perioperative Services consists of the Pre Anesthesia Clinic (PAC), Operating Room (OR), Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU), Endoscopy, Minor Procedures, and Sterile Processing Dept. Patients are cared for from 10 months until the end of life. Surgeons credentialed at BMH perform surgery in three rooms. The OR provides care 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The elective schedule runs from 7:00am to 3:30pm.

The PACU provides immediate post-operative care, intensive observation, and discharge of patients following operative and special procedures. The ACU supports same-day surgical services, including pre- and post-operative care and education. Sterile Processing decontaminates instruments and equipment for the OR and physician practices. The Pre Anesthesia Clinic is staffed by RNs, a Workflow Coordinator, and a Unit Secretary; patients are interviewed prior to surgery, pre-op consults and test results are reviewed, and anesthesia guidelines are followed to ensure adequate patient assessment and preparation.

Responsibilities

• Assess health status of individuals and groups; formulate nursing diagnoses; establish patient-centered goals; develop, implement, and evaluate plans of care.
• Prescribe and delegate nursing interventions consistent with the Vermont Nurse Practice Act.
• Supervise others as appropriate and ensure a safe environment that supports optimal patient outcomes.
• Provide patient and family education.
• Collaborate with all members of the health-care team to coordinate effective perioperative management.
• Perform both circulating and scrub responsibilities competently.

Requirements

• Graduate of an RN-accredited program; BSN preferred.
• Recent operating room experience preferred.
• Circulator/Scrub training preferred.
• CNOR Certification preferred.
• Registered Nurse currently licensed by the State of Vermont.
• Current BLS healthcare provider status.

Physical demands

• On-the-job time spent: standing (up to 1/3), walking (up to 1/3), sitting (2/3 or more), talking or hearing (2/3 or more), use of hands to finger, handle, or feel (up to 1/3), reaching with hands and arms (up to 1/3).
• Weight lifted or force exerted: up to 10 pounds (2/3 or more), up to 35 pounds (1/3 to 1/2).
• Special vision requirements: close vision, color vision, ability to adjust focus.

Work environment

• Exposure to: moving mechanical parts (up to 1/3), fumes or airborne particles (up to 1/3), toxic or caustic chemicals (up to 1/3), risk of radiation (none).
• Typical noise level: moderate.
• Hearing: ability to hear calls and instructions from physicians, department staff, and others.

Pay

$39.15–$68.16 per hour, based on relevant experience, education, internal equity, and market competitiveness.