Circulator, RN

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

The RN circulator is the patient advocate, managing all necessary care inside the operating or procedure room for all patient populations and collaborating with all surgical team members to provide safe and efficient care.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Promote the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
2. Acts as an advocate for the patient before, during, and after surgery. 
3. Ensures all aspects of key surgery safety checks are completed prior to and throughout the procedure/surgery.  
4. Works collaboratively with other surgical team members to ensure appropriate equipment, trays, and supplies are available for the assigned case and in good working order.
5. Develop and execute an individualized peri-operative patient plan of care.
6. Performs interventions to maintain patient stability and surgical site care.
7. Communicate with the patient and/or designated support person to ensure the procedure, risks, benefits, peri- and post-operative plan of care and rehabilitation are well-understood and that the patient is involved in decisions impacting care and recovery.
8. Accurate, complete, and legible documentation of the surgical process, including preoperative nursing care.
9. Identifies and reports patient safety concerns, actual events, or near misses through the safety reporting system and to the OR Charge RN or CNO.
10. Maintains privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.
11. Promotes and role models collegial, collaborative relationships with all interprofessional team members.
12. Provides age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice.

Qualifications Required:

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office
• Associate Degree in Nursing from an accredited program
• Two years of nursing experience in surgery or other acute care setting
• Willingness to float to preop/PACU/postop

Qualifications Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing
• Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) 

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

• Physically demanding, high-stress environment
• Exposure to blood, sharp instruments and other devices, body fluids and tissue, communicable diseases, chemicals, radiation, and repetitive motions 
• Full range of body motion, including handling and lifting patients 
• Manual and finger dexterity 
• Hand and eye coordination 
• Standing and walking for extensive periods 
• Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 lbs. 
• Corrected vision and hearing to within normal range 
• Working under stressful conditions