JOB TITLE: Circulating Registered Nurse - Outpatient Surgery
POSITION SUMMARY: The Circulating Registered Nurse (RN) provides safe, efficient, and patient-centered nursing care throughout the intraoperative experience. The Circulating RN is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the nursing care of patients in the operating room, maintaining a safe surgical environment, facilitating communication among the surgical team, and ensuring compliance with established standards for patient safety, infection prevention, and regulatory requirements.
The Circulating RN serves as the patient advocate throughout the surgical procedure and collaborates closely with surgeons, anesthesia providers, surgical technologists, perioperative nurses, and other members of the healthcare team to promote optimal patient outcomes, efficient surgical flow, and a positive patient experience. Service lines include ENT, General Surgery, Ortho Hand, and Podiatry with growth potential to others in future.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Build Trust - We exhibit integrity, transparency, and compassion in every interaction.
- Serve as the patient's advocate throughout the surgical procedure, protecting patient dignity, privacy, safety, and individual needs.
- Verify patient identity, planned procedure, surgical site, consent, allergies, and other required documentation prior to the procedure.
- Participate in the surgical time-out and ensure required safety checks are completed before the procedure begins.
- Maintain clear, accurate, and timely communication with the surgical team regarding patient status, concerns, and identified risks.
- Provide appropriate hand-off communication during transitions between pre-operative, intraoperative, and post-operative areas.
- Maintain accurate documentation in the electronic health record and complete required intraoperative records.
- Address patient and family concerns with compassion and professionalism within the scope of the role.
- Escalate patient safety concerns, changes in condition, or discrepancies promptly and appropriately.
Obsess Over Excellence - We have high standards and seek continuous improvement.
- Coordinate and provide comprehensive intraoperative nursing care in accordance with professional standards, organizational policies, and regulatory requirements.
- Assess and monitor the patient's condition throughout the surgical procedure and communicate changes promptly to the appropriate members of the healthcare team.
- Ensure appropriate patient positioning, padding, safety measures, and protection from injury are maintained throughout the procedure.
- Coordinate surgical counts, including instruments, sponges, sharps, and other applicable items, in collaboration with the surgical technologist.
- Manage surgical specimens according to organizational policy, including appropriate identification, labeling, documentation, and transfer.
- Maintain awareness of medications, implants, equipment, supplies, and other resources required for the procedure.
- Ensure appropriate documentation of medications, implants, specimens, positioning, counts, devices, and other intraoperative activities.
- Monitor the operating room environment and intervene when safety, infection prevention, or aseptic technique standards are compromised.
- Participate in emergency response and stabilization of patients within scope of practice and training.
- Participate in quality improvement, performance improvement, patient safety, and evidence-based practice initiatives.
- Maintain clinical competency through continuing education, training, and required competency validation.
Lead Innovation - We lead with creativity, agility and think bold in our approach.
- Anticipate the needs of the surgical team and proactively coordinate resources to support safe and efficient procedures.
- Adapt to changing surgical schedules, case complexity, patient needs, and unexpected clinical circumstances.
- Identify opportunities to improve operating room workflows, communication, patient safety, and surgical efficiency.
- Support implementation of new technologies, equipment, evidence-based practices, and process improvements.
- Communicate potential delays, resource constraints, equipment concerns, or other barriers that may impact surgical flow.
- Demonstrate sound clinical judgment and flexibility when responding to unexpected changes or urgent surgical needs.
- Contribute ideas and solutions that promote efficient room turnover, on time starts, and effective use of perioperative resources.
Deepen Connections - We build strong relationships with our patients, their families, and partners in the communities we serve.
- Establish a professional, reassuring presence for patients who may be experiencing anxiety or uncertainty related to surgery.
- Promote respectful and compassionate interactions with patients and families before, during, and after the surgical procedure.
- Collaborate effectively with surgeons, anesthesia providers, surgical technologists, PACU staff, pre-operative nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
- Facilitate effective communication among members of the surgical team to promote continuity, coordination, and safe patient care.
- Serve as a liaison between the patient and surgical team when appropriate, ensuring patient needs and concerns are communicated.
- Support a culture of teamwork, respect, accountability, and collaboration within the perioperative environment.
- Participate in cross-training and provide support to other perioperative areas as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required Education:
- Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
Preferred Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Required Licensure:
- Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in Washington State.
Specialty Certification:
- Basic Life Support (BLS) is required.
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) preferred, or ability to obtain within required timeframe.
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) preferred, or ability obtain within the required timeframe.
- CNOR or other perioperative nursing certification preferred.
Required Experience:
- Demonstrated scrub nurse experience required
- Experience in perioperative, pre-operative, PACU, procedural, or acute nursing
- Outpatient or ambulatory surgery experience strongly preferred.
- Experience working in a multidisciplinary surgical environment preferred.
Skills:
- Strong clinical assessment, critical thinking, prioritization, and decision-making skills.
- Demonstrated knowledge of circulating nurse responsibilities and intraoperative nursing practices.
- Knowledge of surgical procedures, patient positioning, surgical counts, specimen management, implants, and intraoperative documentation.
- Strong understanding of infection prevention, sterile technique, surgical asepsis, and operating room safety standards.
- Ability to anticipate the needs of the surgical team and proactively coordinate supplies, equipment, medications, and other resources.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills with surgeons, anesthesia providers, surgical technologists, perioperative nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Ability to recognize changes in patient condition and respond appropriately to urgent or emergent situations.
- Ability to maintain composure, sound judgment, and effective communication in high-pressure situations.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to patient safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
- Ability to adapt to changing surgical schedules, case volumes, patient acuity, and operational needs.
- Ability to effectively communicate delays, safety concerns, equipment issues, or other barriers that may affect surgical flow.
- Proficiency with electronic health records and perioperative documentation systems.
- Commitment to teamwork, accountability, continuous learning, and professional development.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Outpatient operating room and perioperative environment.
- Fast-paced clinical setting requiring frequent collaboration with surgeons, anesthesia providers, surgical technologists, nurses, patients, and other healthcare professionals.
- Frequent exposure to surgical procedures, medications, bodily fluids, sharps, surgical smoke, cleaning agents, and other conditions typical of the operating room environment.
- Requires adherence to surgical attire, infection prevention practices, aseptic technique, and operating room safety standards.
- May involve exposure to varying temperatures, noise levels, lighting conditions, and prolonged periods in the operating room.
- Primarily weekday hours with early start times; flexibility may be required based on surgical volume, case complexity, staffing, and operational needs.
- May require occasional extended hours, weekends, or schedule adjustments.
- May require cross-training or temporary coverage in other perioperative or procedural areas.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, including throughout lengthy surgical procedures.
- Ability to frequently bend, stoop, reach, twist, push, and pull while performing operating room duties.
- Ability to maintain prolonged or awkward positions while assisting with patient care, positioning, equipment, and surgical activities.
- Ability to lift, reposition, transfer, and assist patients using appropriate safety techniques and equipment.
- Ability to move, push, pull, and assist with movement of operating room equipment, stretchers, beds, and supplies.
- Ability to safely handle and manipulate surgical instruments, equipment, supplies, and other perioperative materials.
- Ability to maintain visual and cognitive attention throughout surgical procedures.
- Ability to respond quickly to patient emergencies and rapidly changing clinical conditions.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities and maintaining patient safety.
- Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) and surgical attire for extended periods.
OTHER DUTIES: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
BENEFITS: We believe in taking care of those who take care of our community. We're proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package that puts your health and well-being first. With our flexible medical plan, you'll have access to multiple in-network tiers, including top-quality care from Snoqualmie Valley Health, Eastside Health, and First Choice/First Health providers. The best part? Anyone covered under our plan can receive care at SVH at no cost! It's all about giving you the options and support you need to experience life's great adventures.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Travel Assistance & ID Theft Protection
Benefit Eligibility Requirements - Employees regularly scheduled at least 20 hours per week.
Employee Dependents - Your legal spouse or domestic partner; dependent children until age 26.
Waiting Period - 1st of the month from the date of hire.
