Clinical Nurse Manager, Operating Room

B.E. Smith Leadership Solutions; Bismarck (ND); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

CHI St. Alexius Health in Bismarck, ND seeks a visible, hands-on Clinical Nurse Manager, Operating Room to oversee perioperative services and support improvements in surgical operations, patient safety, and team performance.

You will lead approximately 50 FTEs across the OR, GI, and Respiratory Therapy suites, monitor utilization and staffing, and drive reliable case flow. The role emphasizes collaboration with physicians and ongoing quality initiatives for optimal patient outcomes.

Qualifications

• BSN is required; master's degree strongly preferred.
• Active ND and/or compact RN license required.
• BLS and ACLS certifications required.
• Minimum of three years of relevant OR leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee perioperative services and support improvements in surgical operations and patient safety.
• Monitor room utilization, block scheduling, cancellations, staffing, and turnover.
• Coordinate resources across OR, GI, and Respiratory Therapy suites to ensure reliable case flow.
• Establish expectations, promote accountability and continuous improvement, and support recruitment/retention.
• Maintain regular communication with physicians and address operational needs collaboratively.
• Advance quality and patient safety initiatives and prepare for Joint Commission survey in 2027.

Skills

Nurse leadership

Clinical judgment

Communication

Education

BSN

Master's degree preferred

ND RN license (or compact)

BLS/ACLS certifications

Job description

Join CHI St. Alexius Health, located in beautiful North Dakota, as their new Clinical Nurse Manager, Operating Room!

The Position

CHI St. Alexius Health is seeking a visible, hands-on Clinical Nurse Manager, Operating Room, to oversee perioperative services and support continued improvements in surgical operations, patient safety, and team performance.
Reporting to the Director, this leader will oversee approximately 50 FTEs across the OR, GI, and Respiratory Therapy suites. Surgical services includes 10 operating rooms, two additional women's surgery and cystoscopy spaces, as well as a GI suite.
The Manager will maintain efficient surgical operations by monitoring room utilization, block scheduling, cancellations, staffing, and turnover. With surgical volume and staffing needs requiring ongoing coordination, this leader will identify opportunities to improve resource utilization, support reliable case flow, and maintain high standards of care.
The Manager will establish clear expectations, build trust, and promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. A visible leader who communicates clearly and leads with a firm but fair approach will help strengthen staff engagement while supporting recruitment, retention, and workforce stability.
The Manager will maintain regular communication with physicians, address operational needs collaboratively, and support a positive experience for both providers and staff. The role will also help advance quality and patient safety initiatives while preparing for the next Joint Commission survey in 2027.
The ideal candidate will bring strong clinical judgment, effective communication skills, and a practical approach to perioperative leadership. Additionally, this leader will be actively involved in daily operations, developing teams, and building on positive organizational changes while preparing for future leadership advancement.

Requirements

BSN is required; master's degree is strongly preferred.
Active ND and/or compact RN license is required.
BLS and ACLS certifications are required.
A minimum of three years of relevant OR leadership experience is required.

The Organization

CHI St. Alexius Health is a regional healthcare system comprised of a tertiary hospital, six critical access hospitals (CAHs), and numerous clinics and outpatient services in central and western North Dakota.
As the largest health care delivery system in central and western North Dakota, CHI St. Alexius Health covers more square miles and sees more patients than anyone else in the region.
The faith-based heritage system inspires healing ministry of care. And the organizations commitment to quality calls for staff to deliver better patient outcomes for all.
The organization also manages five other CAHs (four in ND and one in SD, respectively), located in Ashley, Elgin, Linton, Wishek, and Mobridge.
St. Alexius Health is part of Catholic Health Initiatives, a national nonprofit health system with 103 hospitals throughout 18 states.

The Community

Bismarck, the state capital of North Dakota, was ranked the seventh fastest-growing city in the United States by Forbes magazine in 2015 and boasts one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.
Averaging less annual snowfall than cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, and Buffalo, Bismarck enjoys the best of all seasons.
With about fifty parks (2,000 acres), Bismarck has no shortage of scenic lands to enjoy; from picnic areas and tennis courts to indoor hockey rinks, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.
The city is a hub of culture, history, and shopping, featuring attractions such as the Dakota Zoo (one of the finest open-air zoos in the Midwest), State Museum at the North Dakota Heritage Center, and Fort Abraham Lincoln.