Assistant Head Nurse - Operating

Alberta Health Services; St. Albert; On-site; CAD 96,000 - 131,000; Full time

Job summary

Alberta Health Services in Edmonton Zone seeks an Assistant Head Nurse for the Operating Room. You will lead staff assignments, monitor patient flow, and mentor nursing staff while promoting safe, quality, family-centered care.

You will collaborate with leaders on education, policy, and operational priorities, ensuring compliance with standards and supporting staff in high-stress situations.

Qualifications

• Completion of an accredited nursing education program.
• Active or eligible for registration and practice permit with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA).
• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support - Health Care Provider (BCLS-HCP).
• Three years recent OR experience including scrubbing/circulating in General Surgery, Gyne Surgery, Plastics and Orthopedics.

Responsibilities

• Assign staff and manage patient flow in the Operating Room.
• Act as a clinical resource and role model for nursing staff.
• Lead education initiatives and mentor staff during complex procedures.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Education

RN license Alberta

Job description

Reports directly to the Patient Care Manager of the Surgical Suite (O.R.), this position acts as a resource nurse for all Surgical Suite staff, mentors new staff and assists in education initiatives. This position also works alongside the Unit Manager in ensuring staff meet annual compulsory education requirements. Position acts as a resource and support for nursing staff during complex procedures. Other expectations include attendance and involvement on committees, organizing of in-services for education needs of staff, working with supply coordinator for equipment / instrument evaluations and updating Doctor’s preference cards and pick lists for surgeries. The resource nurse promotes excellence in the delivery of patient care, contributes to quality initiatives, policy and procedures and promotes a professional work environment on the unit.

Description:

As an Assistant Head Nurse, you will be responsible for staff assignments, patient flow and acting as a role model, clinical resource and advocate for nursing staff. In addition to providing frontline nursing care, as required, you will take a leadership role in the promotion of quality patient care and the implementation of operational priorities. Your in-depth knowledge and skills, advanced judgment and clinical experience, will assist in providing solutions for complex health care issues at all levels with patients, interprofessional teams, administrators and policy makers. You will play a key role in providing safe, quality patient and family centered care while reflecting the shared vision and values of AHS.

• Union: United Nurses of Alberta
• Unit and Program: Operating Room
• Primary Location: Sturgeon Community Hospital
• Multi-Site: At (UNA only)
• FTE: 1.00
• Posting End Date: 28-SEP-2026
• Employee Class: Regular Full Time
• Date Available: 08-OCT-2026
• Length of Shift in weeks: 12
• Shifts per cycle: 57
• Days Off: Other
• Minimum Salary: $46.05
• Maximum Salary: $63.02
• Vehicle Requirement: Not Applicable

• Classification: Assistant Head Nurse
• Union: United Nurses of Alberta
• Unit and Program: Operating Room
• Primary Location: Sturgeon Community Hospital
• Location Details: As Per Location
• Multi-Site: At (UNA only)
• FTE: 1.00
• Posting End Date: 28-SEP-2026
• Employee Class: Regular Full Time
• Date Available: 08-OCT-2026
• Hours per Shift: 7.75
• Length of Shift in weeks: 12
• Shifts per cycle: 57
• Shift Pattern: Days, Evenings, Nights, Weekends, On Call
• Days Off: Other
• Minimum Salary: $46.05
• Maximum Salary: $63.02
• Vehicle Requirement: Not Applicable

Required Qualifications:

Completion of an accredited nursing education program.Active or eligible for registration and practice permit with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA).Current Basic Cardiac Life Support - Health Care Provider (BCLS-HCP).

Additional Required Qualifications:

Must have three (3) years recent experience in the Surgical Suite - Operating Room (O.R.), including scrubbing / circulating in General Surgery, Gyne Surgery, Plasticsand Orthopedics. Must have Peri-operative course. Current experience is defined as working in an OR setting within the past 2 years. Charge nurse experience and ability to mentor staff is required. Member in good standing with CARNA. Certification CPR. The ability to cope and effectively perform in stressful and / or emergency situations is essential. The incumbent must possess leadership and decision‑making ability and be able to exercise sound judgment and use initiative. Good interpersonal and public relations skills as well as good communication skills, oral and written are essential. Good organization and coordination skills are required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Baccalaureate degree in nursing preferred, combination of experience and education may be considered. Ability to use various AHS computer programs desirable.

Please note:

All postings close at 23:59 MT of the postingend date indicated.

Security Screening:

A satisfactory criminal record check and/or Vulnerable Sector Search is required prior to your first day of work. Additionally, all employees have an ongoing duty to disclose any charges or convictions that may occur during their employment with AHS.

Healthy Albertans. Healthy
Communities. Together.

We’re passionate about what we do. Our team of skilled and dedicated health care professionals, support staff, and physicians promote wellness and provide health care all across Alberta.

Everything we do at AHS reflects a patient and family centred approach; it’s about putting patients’ and families’ experiences, priorities and trust first.

We are an equal opportunity employer. AHS values the diversity of the people and communities we serve and is committed to attracting, engaging and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Edmonton Zone, St. Albert, Sturgeon Community Hospital

Edmonton Zone, St. Albert, Sturgeon Community Hospital

Edmonton Zone, St. Albert, Sturgeon Community Hospital