Registered Nurse (RN) Operating Room Circulator

Overview

The Registered Nurse (RN) provides professional nursing care across the lifespan in alignment with organizational standards, policies, and evidence-based practice. Utilizing the nursing process, the RN assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates patient care while delivering high-quality, culturally sensitive, and patient-centered services. Collaboration with providers and interdisciplinary teams is essential to promote optimal patient outcomes and safety.

Role Responsibilities

The circulator nurse coordinates perioperative workflow outside the sterile field by:

• Preparing the patient and verifying documentation
• Ensuring equipment readiness and completing safety checklists
• Facilitating communication among the surgical team
• Advocating for patients while maintaining situational awareness
• Anticipating needs and supporting sterile staff
• Documenting key intraoperative events to maintain a safe surgical environment

Circulator nurses are required to participate in on-call coverage to support urgent and emergent surgical cases.

Patient Care

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and develop individualized plans of care.
• Implement and evaluate nursing interventions and patient responses.
• Administer medications and treatments safely and accurately per provider orders and policy.
• Recognize changes in patient condition and initiate appropriate interventions or escalation of care.
• Provide patient and family education related to care, medications, and discharge needs.

Nursing Judgment & Clinical Decision-Making

• Conduct comprehensive assessments and recognize significant changes in patient condition.
• Exercise independent nursing judgment in determining interventions and priorities.
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and revise individualized nursing plans of care.
• Integrate clinical findings with ethical principles and regulatory requirements in decision-making.
• Accept accountability for nursing decisions and outcomes in accordance with statutes and policies.

Care Coordination & Documentation

• Collaborate with providers and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care.
• Facilitate referrals, follow-up care, and continuity of services.
• Document assessments, interventions, and outcomes accurately and timely in the electronic health record.
• Advocate for patient care and assist patients in navigating the healthcare system.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Practice within nursing scope and adhere to regulatory, safety, and infection prevention requirements.
• Participate in quality and performance improvement activities.
• Maintain required competencies and certifications.
• Report adverse events, near misses, and unsafe conditions per policy.

Teamwork & Professional Practice

• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, flexibility, and teamwork.
• Provide appropriate guidance and delegation to ancillary staff.
• Support orientation, mentoring, and education of staff, students, and peers.
• Float to other departments or assignments as needed.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Nursing from an accredited program.
• Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the State of Alaska.
• Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications required.
• Clinical competency required within 3 months and recertification every 3 years.
• High Risk Competency required within 3 months and annually thereafter.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of nursing principles, evidence-based practice, and infection prevention.
• Excellent clinical judgment, organization, prioritization, and communication skills.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient with electronic health records and clinical systems.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to lift, push, pull, and move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform bending, sto