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 assist the entire surgical team before, after, and during a patient’s operation. OR nurses require a unique set of skills that are quite distinct from what’s needed in other nursing specialties. Thus, it’s important to create a targeted OR nurse job description to attract the right people for this role.
Below we’ll provide an OR nurse job description sample that outlines example benefits, duties, skills, and qualifications that applicants may be looking out for. Tailor this template and couple it with thoughtful interview questions to recruit highly qualified OR nurses onto your surgical team.
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. 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’ve grasped the attention of your potential applicants, it’s time to hone in on the perks of working at your facility. This section of the OR 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 what they’ll be expected to do on the job. Before drafting this section, consider whether you’re looking for an OR nurse who can carry out both scrub and circulating functions. If so, you’ll want to list all relevant duties rather than making separate scrub and circulating OR 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 OR nurse job description should list essential details about scheduling and the expected pay for the role. 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.
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 on taking 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.
Fill Your Positions With Talented Nursing Professionals
Writing a targeted OR nurse job description is the first step to narrowing down the right candidates for your team. Find out how IntelyCare facilitates the hiring process by matching quality nursing professionals to openings at your facility.