Circulating Operating Room Nurse

Circulating Operating Room Nurse

The hospitals: When you need critical medical care, whether a surgery, laboratory work, bringing a new life into the world, or for those unexpected emergencies, you can trust your neighborhood hospitals, Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC) and Santa Paula Hospital to address your needs. VCMC is a fully-integrated, comprehensive system of hospital, clinic and specialty services. The system provides access to health care to all residents of our county, with special emphasis on providing access to care for the underserved and those facing barriers. Santa Paula Hospital offers a comprehensive list of inpatient and outpatient services and full-service departments for diagnostic procedure, treatment, aftercare and ongoing care.

The position: Under the general direction of the Perioperative Services Director, the Circulating Operating Room Nurse's primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and well-being of the patients undergoing surgical interventions. Adhering to the nursing process and current standards of practice, as outlined by the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN), the circulating nurse ensures the safety and success of surgical procedures by managing various aspects of the operating room (OR) environment. Working closely with surgical teams, anesthesia providers, and other healthcare professionals, the Circulating Operating Room Nurse oversees the flow of activities within the OR, coordinates patient care, and maintains adherence to sterile techniques and safety protocols.

The ideal candidate: The Circulating Operating Room Nurse is distinguished from other nursing classifications in that incumbents independently perform professional perioperative nursing work in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of surgery in a trauma/acute care setting. The ideal candidate for this position will have a keen eye for detail, ensuring that all necessary equipment, instruments, and supplies are available and prepared for each surgical procedure. Additionally, they will demonstrate strong critical thinking and communication skills, to collaborate effectively with all members of the surgical team to ensure optimal patient care. Lastly, the ideal candidate will be flexible and adaptable and respond calmly in a changing and unpredictable environment while maintaining high ethical and professional conduct.

What we offer: The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, subject to eligibility requirements, that includes:

• Educational/Bilingual Incentive: Incumbents may be eligible for an educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.
• Certification Pay: $0.813 per hour based on scheduled work week hours for each qualified certification up to a maximum of five (5) certifications. One of the five certifications may be paid at $2.00 per hour for a National Certification. List provided in the MOA, Exhibit 9.
• Evening Shift Differential - 7.5%
• Night Shift Differential 15%
• Weekend Shift Differential - $2.00 per hour
• Charge Nurse Premium Pay - $2.50 per hour and $1.50 per hour if assigned patients
• Preceptor Pay $2.50 per hour
• Standby Premium Pay of regular hourly wage or Federal minimum wage (whichever is greater)
• Critical Staffing Shift -$200 for a 12-hour shift; $167 for a 10-hour shift; $135 for an 8-hour shift; $100 for a 6-hour shift
• In-House Registry Pay: Non-overtime is 1.75 times straight time base hourly rate. Overtime is 2 times straight time base hourly rate
• Continuous County Service Incentive Pay: 1% for 7 years, 1.25% for 12 years and 1.5% for 17 years
• Flexible Credit Allowance: Biweekly contribution towards medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from authorized plans.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 2% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Pension Plan: Participation in the County's defined benefit pension plan. If eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems such as CalPERS.
• To learn more about the benefits, please follow the link below: CNA_MOA_2023-2028.pdf (ventura.org) (Download PDF reader)

Agency/Department: Health Care Agency - Ventura County Medical Center/Santa Paula Hospital Registered Operating Room Nurse is represented by the California Nurses' Association (CNA) and is eligible for overtime compensation. Salary placement will be determined according to the current California Nurses' Association (CNA) memorandum of agreement. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies. There are currently four (4) Regular vacancies.

Tentative schedule: Opening date: March 12, 2025 Closing date: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs. It is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible.

Examples of duties: Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Ensures that the surgical room is sterile and safe for the patient and ensures that the sterile field is not compromised during the procedure (including surgical counts, time outs, positioning, and traffic control, and keeping a clutter free environment);
• Leads and coordinates all communications and activities among team members, including using the white board, coordinating the use of equipment, and contacting other providers when services are required, etc.;
• Prepares the patient for the procedure, which includes reviewing medical records & history, patient assessment, review of consent and test results, verification of surgical site; handles the preparation for the operating room, before the surgery takes place, ensuring all necessary equipment, instruments, supplies, medications, and imaging are available; and communicates with physician on any concerns raised by these activities;
• Assists anesthesia caring for the patient during induction, extubating, and emergence to ensure the safety of the patient;
• Anticipates the needs of the surgeon, surgical assistants, anesthesiologists, and surgical technicians during the surgical procedure;
• Documents events, implants, specimen handling, medication administration, and patient status;
• Provides direction to other health care professionals and ancillary staff who are participating in the care of the patient;
• Provides oversight to other operating room personnel;
• Monitors the overall well-being of the patient during the surgical procedure;
• May transport specimens that require diagnostic testing to the laboratory, handles and cares for specimens and appropriately documents the disposition of the specimen;
• Orients qualified candidates and new personnel on hospital policies and procedures;
• Provides emotional support for the patient and family members before, during, and after the surgical procedure; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

Typical qualifications: These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list. EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE Graduation from an accredited school of nursing; AND, one (1) year of recent full-time experience in a perioperative setting. NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Must possess and maintain a current, valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California Must have a current, valid Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification by first day of employment. Must be willing and able to take after-hour calls and weekend calls.

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN)
• Possession of a Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
• Possession of an Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification
• Possession of a Certified Nurse, Operating Room (CNOR) certification
• Possession of a Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certification
• Prior Tier 2 trauma center experience

Knowledge, skills, and abilities: Thorough knowledge of: The theories, techniques, and practices used in advanced nursing care of specialized units, including an acute care operating room; Surgical procedures, anatomy, and instrumentation; Medical terminology; Hospital routine and equipment; Medicines and narcotics. Working knowledge and proficiency with: Electronic medical records ("EMR") systems. Skill in: Effective leadership, problem solving, collaboration, and communication; Ability to: Plan and organize nursing care with a high

County of Ventura Government