Assistant Nurse Manager - Operating Room

Job Requirements

Job Description

The Assistant Nurse Manager (ANM) of the Operating Room supports the Nurse Manager in the clinical, operational, and administrative leadership of perioperative services. This role serves as a visible, hands-on leader who promotes excellence in patient care, operational performance, staff development, and continuous improvement while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, and High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the daily clinical and operational management of the Operating Room, ensuring safe, efficient patient care, appropriate staffing, and optimal case flow.
• Serve as the Nurse Manager's designee, providing leadership coverage and representing the department during meetings, committees, and interdisciplinary initiatives as assigned.
• Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia providers, Sterile Processing, Scheduling, PACU, Preoperative Services, and other departments to resolve operational issues and optimize perioperative services.
• Monitor daily OR operations, including staffing, room utilization, case progression, add-on cases, emergency procedures, equipment readiness, and resource allocation.
• Lead and support quality improvement, patient safety, infection prevention, and operational excellence initiatives using data to drive measurable improvements.
• Champion High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles by promoting transparency, accountability, teamwork, learning, and a strong culture of safety.
• Support regulatory readiness and ensure compliance with AORN standards, Joint Commission requirements, CMS regulations, and organizational policies.
• Participate in patient safety event investigations, root cause analyses, corrective action planning, and implementation of sustainable process improvements.
• Develop, mentor, coach, and evaluate perioperative staff while promoting professional growth, engagement, accountability, and succession planning.
• Partner with the Nurse Manager in performance management, employee relations, attendance management, corrective action, competency validation, and recognition initiatives.
• Assist with recruitment, interviewing, onboarding, orientation, retention, and leadership development of perioperative staff.
• Collaborate with educators, preceptors, and specialty leaders to support competency development, evidence-based practice, and continuous learning.
• Assist in workforce planning, scheduling, productivity management, call coverage, and equitable staff assignments while maintaining safe patient care.
• Support physician partnership by facilitating communication, addressing operational concerns, and enhancing collaboration between physicians and the perioperative team.
• Promote responsible stewardship of departmental resources, including staffing, equipment, supplies, instrumentation, and budget utilization.
• Lead or support implementation of new technologies, workflow redesign, Lean initiatives, and innovation projects that improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
• Conduct leadership rounding to identify opportunities, remove barriers, recognize excellence, and maintain open communication with staff and physicians.
• Perform other leadership responsibilities as assigned in support of departmental and organizational goals.

Work Experience

Job Requirements

Education & Licensure

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
• Master's degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Maryland.
• Current BLS certification required.
• CNOR certification preferred.

Work Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of recent Operating Room nursing experience in an acute care hospital is required.
• Minimum oftwo (2) years of progressive leadership experience as a Charge Nurse, Team Lead, Clinical Coordinator, Assistant Nurse Manager, or equivalent leadership role is preferred.
• Experience managing multiple surgical specialties in a high-volume Operating Room environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading quality improvement, patient safety, infection prevention, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience implementing process improvements using Lean, High Reliability Organization (HRO), or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience utilizing operational, financial, and quality metrics to improve departmental performance and patient outcomes.
• Experience supporting employee performance management, coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Demonstrated success leading teams through organizational change while maintaining high employee engagement and exceptional patient care.

Knowledge, Skills & Leadership Requirements

• Comprehensive knowledge of perioperative nursing practice, AORN standards, infection prevention principles, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based practice.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced, high-acuity Operating Room environment.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, coaching, and conflict resolution skills with the ability to foster collaboration across all disciplines.
• Proven ability to develop, mentor, and inspire staff while promoting professional growth, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Commitment to fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, respect, and continuous learning.
• Demonstrated understanding of High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles and the ability to promote a culture of patient safety, error prevention, and operational excellence.
• Ability to lead change initiatives and embrace innovation to improve patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and the perioperative experience.
• Strong analytical and operational decision-making skills with the ability to utilize quality, safety, staffing, and productivity data to drive continuous improvement.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with surgeons, anesthesia providers, Sterile Processing, and interdisciplinary teams to achieve shared goals.
• Proficiency with electronic health records, workforce management systems, Microsoft Office applications, and other healthcare technologies.

Benefits

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation:

Pay Range: $47.00 - $70.54

Other Compensation (if applicable):

Review the 2025-2026 UMMS Benefits Guide