Operating Room Registered Nurse

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Federal benefits

Job summary

The Perioperative Operating Room (OR) Registered Nurse (RN) is accountable for patient outcomes during surgical procedures at the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System. The RN works in both circulator and scrub roles across multiple specialties, ensuring sterility, patient safety, and accurate documentation in the electronic health record.

The role requires a nursing degree, licensure, and English proficiency; five more you may see in the ad.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency required for direct patient care.
• Graduate from an approved nursing program with state licensure.
• State license active and unrestricted upon appointment.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and coordinate care for patients undergoing operative procedures.
• Maintain sterility of the surgical field and ensure safe instrument handling.
• Protect patients from injury and participate in Time Out and documentation in EHR.

Skills

English proficiency

Operating room experience

Education

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing

Current, full, active, unrestricted nursing license in US state

Job description

Summary

Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System is a Joint Commissioned accredited Level 1c complexity that consists of a 61-bed hospital located in Muskogee as well as six community based outpatient clinics located in Tulsa - Bartlesville - Claremore - Vinita - McAlester and Idabel. In 2021 - Congress approved federal funding for a new Veterans Hospital in Tulsa which will be the first hospital to be built under the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016.

Summary

Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System is a Joint Commissioned accredited Level 1c complexity that consists of a 61-bed hospital located in Muskogee as well as six community based outpatient clinics located in Tulsa - Bartlesville - Claremore - Vinita - McAlester and Idabel. In 2021 - Congress approved federal funding for a new Veterans Hospital in Tulsa which will be the first hospital to be built under the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016.

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: 1 Year Operating Room Experience Preferred 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/13100723
• 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: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols

Duties

• The Perioperative Operating Room (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 is expected to function proficiently in both the circulator and scrub role within the OR and to be competent in all surgical specialties served
• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Planning - directing - and coordinating the care of every patient undergoing operative and other invasive procedures
• Assure the sterility of the surgical field is maintained and all instrumentation and equipment in play is used in a safe and efficient manner
• Protect the patient from injury caused by chemical - electrical - mechanical - and thermal sources - and extraneous objects
• Perform counting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items
• Participate in the Time Out process to ensure correct site - side - and level - and follows implant and tissue/tissue-based product documentation - policy and procedures
• Manage the patient's specimens in the appropriate manner - administering medication safely and correctly - performing interventions to maintain the patient's wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels - and performing interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection
• Responsible for ensuring comprehensive documentation of all care provided during the perioperative experience is timely - complete - and accurate in the electronic health record
• Responsible for knowing what reusable instruments - equipment - medical devices - or supplies are in use in the clinical area
• The OR RN is required to be on-call during off tours hours to provide patient care for emergency procedures
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 9:00am-5:30pm - with on-call component Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized