Surgical Nurse Job Description Template

Surgical nurses are vital members of the perioperative care team, supporting patients before, during, and after invasive procedures. To be successful within this specialized role, one must possess a high level of clinical expertise in addition to strong organizational and collaborative skills. An effective surgical nurse job description highlights these essential qualities while clearly defining expectations to attract candidates who are well positioned to contribute to better patient (and organizational) outcomes.

Use the surgical registered nurse job description template found below as an example for your own hiring strategy. Combined with insights from today’s market trends and a review of some key surgical nurse interview questions, these hiring resources can help you to complete your surgical suite team with a highly-skilled RN who will contribute to safe, high-quality patient care.

Surgical Nurse

Tips: Begin your job description for surgical nurses with a concise overview of the position and the facility where it’s based. In some settings, nurses may support only a certain range of procedures, or work within a specific perioperative stage, such as post anesthesia care.

A well-crafted introduction clarifies these basic role expectations in addition to establishing the type of care environment (for example, an ambulatory surgical setting vs. hospital). Surgical nurse job descriptions also benefit from highlighting early on what makes each workplace special. This can include any notable awards, accolades, or organizational values that set your facility apart.

Template:

At [facility name], we are actively recruiting an experienced, highly skilled registered nurse to deliver safe, effective, and high-quality patient-family centered care within our 8-bed operating room. Well-suited candidates will have at least two years of clinical experience alongside strong organizational, collaborative, and communication skills.

As recipients of multiple national safety awards, we’re known throughout the community for our commitment to patient wellbeing. We’re also proud of being ranked among the local area’s top employers, with consistently high workplace satisfaction scores that reflect our team-oriented culture. If you’re interested in making beneficial impacts on patient and family lives every day at our state-of-the-art facility, then continue reading about this career-growth opportunity and consider applying with us today.

Benefits

Tips: Follow the introductory section of your job description with a clear overview of available benefits. Highlighting any distinctive or fringe benefits can help you attract top nursing talent, particularly those that set you apart from competing agencies and their competitive offers. So, if your organization offers employees any professional development or personal assistance, be sure to note it here.

Template:

• Health coverage for you and qualifying family members
• Vision, dental, and disability insurance options
• HSA/FSA
• 401K with employer match
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Financial assistance for qualifying professional certification programs

Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: This section gives you space to elaborate on what the role truly entails, differentiating it from calls for other adjacent RN openings like a medical surgical nurse job description. Achieve this by clarifying the expected surgical nurse duties and responsibilities, with examples of position-specific tasks to illustrate daily workflow. Providing this level of detail supports better candidate decision-making, and can help reduce the risk of a bad hire due to mismatched expectations.

Template:

• Provide expert intraoperative assistance to physician and care team
• Float to pre- and postoperative care settings as needed
• Monitor patient status continuously throughout the anesthesia and operational event
• Document and ensure accuracy of patient assessments, interventions, and outcomes in the electronic health record (EHR)
• Assess, maintain, and ensure patient safety throughout their surgical experience
• Communicate changes in patient condition, concerns, or complications to multidisciplinary care team
• Maintain individualized patient and family centered care at all times
• Update patients and families in accordance with the established surgical care plan

Compensation and Schedule

Tips: Some states have pay transparency laws that determine when compensation details must be shared. Even in those states that don’t have these requirements, proactively including pay and scheduling details can drive better hiring outcomes by attracting qualified candidates and setting clear expectations from the start. Being specific with these logistics also helps promote transparency, building trust with potential employees in addition to your organization’s brand reputation among future candidates.

Template:

• $37-$40 per hour depending on experience level
• Full time (40 hours FTE)
• 10 hour day shifts, Monday – Friday (4 shifts per week with variable days)
• On site: [facility address]

Qualifications and Skills

Tips: Given the risks associated with invasive surgical procedures, nurses working within this setting must possess the qualifications and skills necessary to ensure patient safety while supporting optimal outcomes. It’s also important to determine which requirements are truly essential vs. simply preferred.
For example, while experience is often a key consideration, many facilities may benefit from hiring an eager, highly motivated junior surgical nurse. Job descriptions that are less restrictive can attract a broader talent pool across career stages, enabling hiring decisions that build high-performing and diverse surgical teams.

Template:

• BSN degree required
• Active, unencumbered, state-issued RN license
• Minimum 2 years clinical experience, surgical experience preferred
• Proficient computer and EHR documentation skills, EPIC experience preferred
• Current CPR and BLS certification
• ACLS and PALS certifications preferred (required within 3 months of hire)
• CNAMB certification preferred
• Must be able to meet the physical demands of the job including prolonged standing; lifting, pushing, or pulling up to 50 lbs; reaching for and manipulating handheld equipment; and assisting with patient positioning, transfers, and mobility

Call to Action

Tips: This section serves as your final pitch for filling this particular vacancy. It should conclude the job description on a celebratory note, encouraging candidates to take the next steps and apply for the job. It should also explain how candidates can submit their applications, whether it’s through an easily accessible online portal or a non-digital method.

Template:

Are you ready to take the next step in your career at a state-of-the-art surgical practice recognized for delivering exceptional, innovative patient care? Join our dynamic, multidisciplinary team by clicking the Apply Now button below.

Complete Your Care Team Today

A well-crafted, expert-backed surgical nurse job description can help you align with top candidates. Need help building that talent pool? Use our industry-leading nursing job board to streamline your hiring processes and complete your multidisciplinary teams today.