Career Center

Summary

The Operating Room (OR) Registered Nurse (RN) - known as a Perioperative RN - is responsible for administering intraoperative care to the surgical patient in our 6-suite operating room. Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process of assessment - planning - implementation - and evaluation being applied in an ongoing - systematic manner to all patients when providing and/or supervising direct patient care.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Current - full - active - and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• Preferred Experience: BSN or Higher preferred Recent experience in a complex operating room as a surgical nurse preferred
• Scrub experience preferred
• CNOR recognized
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12963957
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Reference: VA Regulations - specifically VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard
• This can be found in the local Human Resources Office
• Physical Requirements: Walking - bending - stooping - and some lifting in the direct care of patients
• There may also be extended periods of sitting
• This position also requires that the staff member be able to wear a lead apron for an extended period of time.

Duties

• The OR RN works with the multidisciplinary surgical team for the coordination of care focused on the patient throughout the continuum of care
• Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs
• The (OR) Registered Nurse (RN) is accountable for patient outcomes resulting from the nursing care for the patient undergoing a surgical/ invasive procedure
• The OR RN plans - directs and coordinates the care of every patient undergoing operative and other invasive procedures - taking into consideration respect for the individual and recognition of the important contribution that each team member makes to the patient's wellbeing
• The OR RN is expected to function proficiently in either the circulator or scrub role within the OR and to be competent in all surgical specialties served
• All OR RNs will carry out a range of duties including - but not limited to: circulating cases
• scrubbing - at the minimum - cases in their area of specialty
• computer charting and ordering
• updating surgeon preference cards
• preparing cases for the following day - coordinating with vendors and the Perioperative Business Manager to address service specific needs - coordinating with the Perioperative Nurse Educator for staff in services on new procedures and equipment - and other duties as assigned by OR leadership
• The OR RN maintains knowledge of current Association of Peri -Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) Standards - VHA Directives - and facility/service level guidance
• The OR RN assures the sterility of the surgical field is maintained and all instrumentation and equipment is used in a safe and efficient manner
• The OR RN protects the patient from injury caused by chemical - electrical - mechanical - and thermal sources - and extraneous objects - performs counting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items - participates in the Time Out process to ensure correct site - side - and level - and follow implant and tissue/tissue based product documentation - policy - and procedures
• The OR RN manages the patient's specimens in the appropriate manner - administers medications safely and correctly - performs interventions to maintain the patient's wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels - and performs interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection
• The OR RN is responsible for ensuring comprehensive documentation of all care provided during the perioperative experience is timely - complete - and accurate in the electronic health record (EHR)
• The OR RN spends time reviewing the patient's history - labs - allergies - and other pertinent information before interviewing the patient in the pre-op area
• The OR RN communicates throughout the case with the family or other support person - offering support and information - and documents this in the EHR
• The OR RN will be assigned to a surgical specialty as a service coordinator
• As a service coordinator the OR RN will be responsible for working with the other coordinator(s) to ensure all needs for the surgical specialty are being met
• The duties of the service coordinator will include - but are not limited to: communicating with surgical staff for case/patient specific needs - communicating with the sterile processing service (SPS) for instrument needs - coordinating with the Perioperative Business Manager for new equipment or purchases - maintain knowledge of inventory and supplies needed - evaluate par levels annually with logistics - ensure preference cards are evaluated and updated in a timely manner for changes - serve as a resource for staff outside of the specialty during orientation and as needed
• The OR RN is required to be included in the OR on-call rotation to provide patient care for emergency procedures during off tours (nights - weekends - holidays)
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 0645 to 1515
• On-Call duties required to include holidays - evenings - nights - and weekends
• Telework: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required