Registered Nurse - Operating Room

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 92,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total rewards package

Paid time off

Federal pension

Federal health insurance

RN licensure (1 full unrestricted)

Mon–Fri schedule 7:30am–4:00pm

Telework not available

Job summary

The OR RN at VA is responsible for patient outcomes in the perioperative setting, coordinating care for patients undergoing surgery and invasive procedures. The role includes circulator and scrub duties, adherence to AORN standards and VHA SOPs, and ensuring sterile technique and accurate documentation.

On-call for emergencies, with a Monday–Friday 7:30am–4:00pm schedule, this non-virtual position emphasizes patient safety, wound perfusion, and adherence to best practices in perioperative care.

Responsibilities

• The OR RN plans, directs, and coordinates the care of every patient undergoing operative and other invasive procedures, taking into consideration respect for the individual and recognition of the important contribution that each team member makes to the patient's well-being.
• The OR RN functions proficiently in both the circulator and scrub role within the OR and is competent in all surgical specialties served.
• Maintains knowledge of AORN standards, VHA Directives, SOPs, and ensures sterility of the surgical field and safe use of instrumentation.
• Protects the patient from injury from chemical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal sources, performs counting procedures, participates in Time Out, and documents care in the electronic health record.
• Knows SOPs for reusable medical equipment, consults Sterile Processing or Infection Control as needed, and may be on-call for off-tour emergencies.

Job description

• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

The Nurse 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

Key Responsibilities

The OR RN plans, directs, and coordinates the care of every patient undergoing operative and other invasive procedures, taking into consideration respect for the individual and recognition of the important contribution that each team member makes to the patient's well-being. 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.

The OR RN maintains knowledge of current Association of peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) standards, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directives, and service level standard operating procedures (SOPs). The OR RN assures the sterility of the surgical field is maintained and all instrumentation and equipment in play is used in a safe and efficient manner.

Protects the patient from injury caused by chemical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal sources, and extraneous objects, performs counting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items, participates in the Time Out process to ensure correct site, side, and level, and follows implant and tissue/tissue-based product documentation, policy, and procedures.

Manages the patient's specimens in the appropriate manner, administers medications safely and correctly, performs interventions to maintain the patient's wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels, and performs 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. Obtains, reads, and follows Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all reusable medical equipment (RME) in use in the clinical area and consults Sterile Processing and/or Infection Control as needed. The OR RN is required to be on-call during off tours hours to provide patient care for emergency procedures. Other duties may be assigned.

• 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, 7:30am-4:00pm
• Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $91954 – $168182/yr.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Other security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-02.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Internal Search' hiring path.