OR Nurse Job Description Template

Operating room (OR) nurses, also known as perioperative nurses, are specialized to work directly in the operating room of a surgical ward. These nurses work with surgical teams to provide patient care during surgical procedures. OR nurses require a unique set of skills that is quite distinct from what’s needed in other nursing specialties. This is why it’s important to create a targeted OR nurse job description to attract the right professionals for this role.

The following job description sample lists the kinds of benefits, duties, skills, and qualifications your facility may want to highlight. Tailor this template and couple it with thoughtful interview questions to recruit highly qualified OR nurses onto your surgical team. You can also explore what other facilities are currently promoting in their OR nurse job listings and find ways to make your facility stand out from the crowd.

Operating Room (OR) Nurse

Tips: In this introduction section, broadly summarize the job and your facility. Introduce the role of the OR nurse and briefly touch on any key qualifications that you’re looking for. OR nurse duties vary across facility types, so this is a great place to give readers a quick look at what would be expected if they joined your team. This is also the place to make your facility stand out from others. List any special distinctions, awards, or experiential benefits that are unique to your organization.

Template:

We’re seeking an experienced RN to join the surgical ward at our downtown campus. [Facility name] is consistently top-ranked for several surgical specialties, offering valuable experiences across our neuro/ortho, spine, and bariatric programs. If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding career as a perioperative nurse, we invite you to join our renowned community hospital that is committed to promoting high-quality patient outcomes.

Our ideal candidate is detail-oriented and comfortable working in fast-paced environments. We’re looking for a collaborative nurse who understands how to deliver safe and effective care alongside other members of the surgical team.

Benefits

Tips: Now that you have the attention of your potential applicants, it’s time to hone in on the perks of working at your facility. This section of the operating room nurse job description should bullet all the key benefits and incentives that you’re offering with the job. Candidates will be weighing these factors alongside other opportunities, so ensure that you highlight them accurately.

Template:

• Competitive pay
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance, with dental and vision
• Generous paid time off (PTO)
• Tuition reimbursement
• No weekends, no nights, and no calls

Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: This section should give potential applicants a general idea of the operating room nurse duties at your facility. Here you want to pre-emptively answer the common questions that your applicants may have.

For example, interested nurses may be wondering, What is an OR nurse’s role on this surgical team? Answer this by explaining whether you’re looking for a nurse who can carry out scrub nurse duties, circulating functions, or both. If you’re looking for a nurse who can excel in both roles, you’ll want to list all relevant duties rather than making separate scrub and circulatingOR nurse job description postings.

Depending on the structure of your surgical ward, you may also want to indicate whether more experienced nurses will be expected to rotate as the charge nurse. If not, consider drafting a separate OR charge nurse job description that focuses more on managerial responsibilities.

Template:

• Work alongside the surgical team to deliver nursing care to patients undergoing surgical/invasive procedures
• Perform essential scrub functions, such as the selection and handling of instruments needed during the procedure
• Perform circulating functions, such as monitoring, recoding, and managing overall nursing care of patients before, during, and after surgery
• Assist surgeon with delegated tasks such as suturing, wound care, and patient positioning during the procedure
• Prepare and sterilize operating rooms and surgical instruments for use
• Provide pre- and post- operative education to patients and their families

Compensation and Schedule

Tips: This section of the operating room nurse job description should list essential details about scheduling and the expected pay for the role. When recruiting an OR nurse, salary-related information can either attract applicants or deter them. If your pay is competitive compared to other facilities in the area, emphasizing this may earn interest from top talent.

Some operating rooms have atypical hours that fluctuate depending on patient appointments. Ensure that you indicate any scheduling considerations that are unique to your facility.

Template:

• Pay range: $45-$55/hour
• Sign-on bonus: $15,000
• Schedule: Full time, 36 hours
• 3 days a week, 12-hour shifts with alternating days off
• Start times range between 0530-0700
• Location: [Insert city, state]

Skills and Qualifications

Tips: In this section, you’ll want to describe the more-specific OR nurse requirements, skills and qualifications that are needed to carry out this role at your facility. In addition to education and certifications, consider whether you want a nurse with direct or tangential experience in the surgical specialty they’ll be working in. For some highly specialized types of surgery, nurse duties may involve the use of intricate, procedure-specific monitoring equipment and instruments. Because of this, speciality services like cardiovascular, neuro, and transplant often require prior experience.

Template:

• BSN from an accredited nursing school required
• Active RN license administered by the [insert state] Board of Nursing
• BLS certification required
• PALS and ACLS certification within six (6) months of hire
• At least 1 year of acute care experience preferred

Call to Action

Tips: Now that you’ve laid out the details of the job, you’ll want to plug in a concise call to action that instructs potential applicants how to take the next steps. Provide a link to your application portal so that candidates can conveniently submit their resumes and cover letters.

Template:

Interested in joining our team of highly qualified healthcare providers? Click here to start your application today.

Reach a Nationwide Network of Talented Nursing Professionals

Writing a targeted OR nurse job description is the first step to narrowing potential candidates down and finding the right fit for your team. Ready to spread word about your opening? Post to our nationwide, nursing-only job board today and find qualified applicants with ease.