Perioperative OR Nurse Internship-Summer-Cohort 2026

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center:  Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

Organization:

Perioperative Education

Job Summary:

JOB SUMMARY

Thank you for your interest in the upcoming Vanderbilt Medical Center, Perioperative OR Internship Program tentatively scheduled for July 20, 2026 – October 16, 2026. The program is for the Adult Operating Rooms only.

• This posting is for experienced RNs only.
• Applications are accepted February 8, 2026 - March 27, 2026.
• You will receive a packet to complete after your application has been received. The completed packet must be received by 12:00 noon CST on March 27, 2026, to be considered for this program.
• No late applications will be accepted.
• Candidates must have a minimum of one year nursing experience preferably in ICU or Med Surg.
• At the time of application, all candidates must have completed an approved Nursing program and have an active RN License.

This program is expected to begin in July 2026 and will last approximately 12.5 weeks (M-F, approx. hrs. will be 6:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m.). This program is open to all RN candidates wishing to work in an OR setting with adult patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. To apply, the candidate should not have any experience working in an operating room (or at least not in the last 5 years). Those selected for this program are full-time employees of Vanderbilt Health and receive competitive compensation and benefits.

The nursing process applies to planning and implementing the care of patients, including patient and family education and continuum of care planning. Effectively communicates pertinent patient/family information to the health care team. Collaborates in establishing patient goals and evaluates progress to ensure effective outcomes. Further professional growth by engaging in learning activities according to the Board of Nursing standards.

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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Collaborates in establishing the plan of care, coordinates and implements care delivery while anticipating patient care needs across the continuum.
• Analyzes comprehensive information pertinent to the patient's care and management to determine nursing diagnosis.
• Continually utilizes the nursing process to evaluate patient's progress towards goals and applies appropriate interventions to ensure effective outcomes.
• Employs strategies to promote health and a safe and healthy environment.
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
• Nursing Patient Assessment & Evaluation (Fundamental Awareness): Has limited experience, training, direct exposure, or past experience working with nursing patient assessment and evaluations.
• Nursing Patient Education (Fundamental Awareness): Has limited experience, training, direct exposure, or past experience working with patient education.
• Care Planning (Fundamental Awareness): Establishes realistic personal work goals and objectives. Demonstrates ability to anticipate basic resource needs, identify distinct tasks, set priorities, schedule activities, meet deadlines, and organize work for own assignments and responsibilities. Prepares and presents clear and accurate status reports on projects and assignments.
• Evidence-Based Practice (Fundamental Awareness): Recognizes nursing practice is research-based and questions or demonstrates curiosity about the scientific basis of practice.

Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Delivers job responsibilities that impact own job area/team with some guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Uses existing procedures, research and analysis to solve standard job related problems that may require some judgement. Breadth of Knowledge: Requires subject matter knowledge within a professional area to meet job requirements. Team Interaction: Individually contributes to project/ work teams.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues: - Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas. - Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner. Delivering Excellent Services: - Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service. - Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department. Managing Resources Effectively :- Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service. - Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources. - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error. Fostering Innovation: - Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.- Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action. - Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications:

LIC-Registered Nurse - Licensure-Others

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :

Less than 1 year

Education

Graduate of an approved discipline specific program

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Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity.  EOE/Vets/Disabled.