Perioperative OR Nurse Internship-Winter-Cohort 2027

Montgomery College; United States; On-site; USD 19,286,000 - 26,174,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderbilt Health announces an OR Internship Program offered by the Perioperative Education organization. This posting targets experienced Registered Nurses for a 12‑week program from March 1 to May 28, 2027, with full‑time status upon selection.

Applications open Sep 14 to Nov 7, 2026, with packets due by 12:00 noon CST on Nov 7, 2026. Candidates must have at least one year of nursing experience, preferably ICU or Med‑Surg, an approved nursing program, and an active RN license.

Job description

Discover Vanderbilt Health: With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization: Perioperative Education

Job Summary

Thank you for your interest in the upcoming Vanderbilt Medical Center, Perioperative OR Internship Program is scheduled for March 1 - May 28, 2027.

• This posting is for experienced RNs only.
• Applications are accepted September 14 - November 7, 2026.
• You will receive a packet to complete after your application has been received. The completed packet must be received by 12:00 noon CST on November 7, 2026, to be considered for this program.
• No late applications will be accepted.
• Candidates must have a minimum of one year nursing experience preferably in ICU or Med Surg.
• At the time of application, all candidates must have completed an approved Nursing program and have an active RN License.
• This program is expected to begin in March 2027 and will last approximately 12 weeks (M-F, approx. hrs. will be 6:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m.).
• This program is open to all RN candidates wishing to work in an OR setting with adult patients at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
• Those selected for this program are full-time employees of Vanderbilt Health and receive competitive compensation and benefits.

The nursing process applies to planning and implementing the care of patients, including patient and family education and continuum of care planning.

Effectively communicates pertinent patient/family information to the health care team.

Collaborates in establishing patient goals and evaluates progress to ensure effective outcomes.

Further professional growth by engaging in learning activities according to the Board of Nursing standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborates in establishing the plan of care, coordinates and implements care delivery while anticipating patient care needs across the continuum.
• Analyzes comprehensive information pertinent to the patient's care and management to determine nursing diagnosis.
• Continually utilizes the nursing process to evaluate patient's progress towards goals and applies appropriate interventions to ensure effective outcomes.
• Employs strategies to promote health and a safe and healthy environment.
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

• Nursing Patient Assessment & Evaluation (Fundamental Awareness): Has limited experience, training, direct exposure, or past experience working with nursing patient assessment and evaluations.
• Nursing Patient Education (Fundamental Awareness): Has limited experience, training, direct exposure, or past experience working with patient education.
• Care Planning (Fundamental Awareness): Establishes realistic personal work goals and objectives. Demonstrates ability to anticipate basic resource needs, identify distinct tasks, set priorities, schedule activities, meet deadlines, and organize work for own assignments and responsibilities. Prepares and presents clear and accurate status reports on projects and assignments.
• Evidence-Based Practice (Fundamental Awareness): Recognizes nursing practice is research-based and questions or demonstrates curiosity about the scientific basis of practice.

Core Accountabilities

• Organizational Impact: Delivers job responsibilities that impact own job area/team with some guidance.
• Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Uses existing procedures, research and analysis to solve standard job related problems that may require some judgement.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Requires subject matter knowledge within a professional area to meet job requirements.
• Team Interaction: Individually contributes to project/ work teams.

Core Capabilities

Supporting Colleagues:

• Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.
• Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas.
• Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner.

Delivering Excellent Services:

• Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service.
• Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner.
• Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support.

Ensuring High Quality:

• Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.
• Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond.
• Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department.

Managing Resources Effectively:

• Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service.
• Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources.
• Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error.

Fostering Innovation:

• Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.
• Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action.
• Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Position Qualifications

Responsibilities:

• Certifications: LIC-Registered Nurse - Licensure-Others
• Work Experience: Relevant Work Experience
• Experience Level : Less than 1 year
• Education Graduate of an approved discipline specific program

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.

PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART OF ALL WE DO.

Great health care takes great people. We’re looking for like-minded individuals driven to make a difference. We invite you to explore careers at Vanderbilt Health, where we value collaboration, embrace continuous learning and foster an environment where everyone can thrive.

We’re the largest private employer in Middle Tennessee, with a growing team and an expanding footprint across towns and communities throughout the region. We employ more than 43,000 people who work in inpatient and outpatient clinical care, research and graduate medical education. Our employees also serve in critical supporting roles in administration, information technology and informatics, finance, legal and community affairs, communications and marketing, fundraising, groundskeeping and facilities, and many other departments.

Our growing academic health system has more than 2,100 licensed hospital beds at eight hospitals: Vanderbilt University Hospital, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital, Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital, Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital, Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital, Vanderbilt Tullahoma‑Harton Hospital, Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital.

Vanderbilt Health is the Mid-South's largest provider of specialty care, with hundreds of outpatient clinic and surgical locations throughout the region, and Tennessee’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for adults and children. We are one of the nation's busiest critical care centers, home to Middle Tennessee’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Burn Center for adults and children, and Middle Tennessee’s only Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We are the nation’s largest transplant center, and last year we performed the most heart transplants than any center worldwide. Vanderbilt Health is an epicenter for biomedical research, winning over $1 billion in annual research awards from government, industry, foundations and donors.

We are also a national leader in medical training and education, with the largest clinical training center in the Mid-South and the only training center in Tennessee for many adult and pediatric specialties. We’re honored to be consistently considered among the nation’s best hospitals for quality, safety and patient satisfaction.

Three of our hospitals — Vanderbilt University Hospital, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital — have been awarded a Five-Star Quality Rating from Medicare.

We support each other and encourage excellence among every member of our workforce. High‑achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth opportunities, competitive compensation and benefits, and a sense of community and purpose. Join us in advancing health care.

Our vision: The world leader in advancing personalized health

Our mission: Personalizing the patient experience through our caring spirit and distinctive capabilities