Rn lead, surgery - full time

Clinical Leader Operating Room, Surgical Services

The Clinical Leader Operating Room (OR) provides clinical, operational, and leadership support for the Surgical Services Department. Under the direction of the Manager and Director of Surgical Services, the Clinical Leader coordinates daily surgical operations, facilitates patient throughput, ensures safe and efficient patient care, promotes regulatory compliance, and serves as a clinical resource for perioperative staff. The Clinical Leader functions as the shift operational leader, maintaining oversight of staffing, room utilization, patient flow, physician relations, and quality initiatives while fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and clinical excellence.

Clinical Leadership

Serves as the clinical resource and operational leader for Operating Room staff.

Provides leadership and guidance during daily surgical operations.

Functions as the department's clinical expert for perioperative nursing practice.

Assists staff with complex surgical procedures and patient care issues.

Serves as a mentor and coach for nursing and surgical technology staff.

Promotes evidence-based perioperative practice.

Supports staff development through coaching and performance feedback.

Serves as a role model for professionalism, accountability, and patient-centered care.

Daily Operations

Coordinates and oversees daily OR operations including:

Patient flow

Room assignments

Case progression

Room turnover

Add-on and emergency cases

Staffing assignments

Break and lunch coverage

Schedule adjustments

Case prioritization

Equipment and supply availability

Works collaboratively with surgeons, anesthesia providers, sterile processing,

PACU

, Endoscopy, Labor & Delivery, and inpatient units to optimize surgical throughput.

Functions as the primary board runner/resource nurse as assigned.

Staffing and Resource Management

Coordinates staffing assignments based on patient acuity and case complexity.

Adjusts staffing throughout the day based on workload and patient volume.

Assists with scheduling call coverage.

Monitors staffing productivity.

Identifies staffing needs and communicates concerns to leadership.

Assists with onboarding and orientation of new employees.

Supports competency validation and ongoing staff development.

Quality and Patient Safety

Promotes compliance with:

AORN Guidelines

Joint Commission standards

CMS Conditions of Participation

OSHA regulations

Infection Prevention standards

Medication safety practices

Universal Protocol

Surgical Time Out

Instrument counts

Fire safety

Surgical smoke evacuation

Specimen management

Assists with:

Root Cause Analyses (RCA)

Event reviews

Safety investigations

Corrective action planning

Performance improvement initiatives

Promotes a culture of safety and high reliability.

Physician Collaboration

Develops collaborative relationships with:

Surgeons

Anesthesia providers

Procedural physicians

Physician offices

Medical directors

Addresses operational concerns in real time to improve efficiency and physician satisfaction.

Facilitates communication between physicians and departmental leadership.

Regulatory Readiness

Supports departmental readiness for:

Joint Commission surveys

CMS surveys

State inspections

Infection Prevention audits

Internal quality reviews

Assists in maintaining compliance documentation.

Participates in policy review and implementation.

Education and Staff Development

Assists with orientation of new staff.

Provides just-in-time education.

Coaches staff in evidence-based practice.

Supports annual competencies.

Identifies educational opportunities.

Encourages specialty certification.

Performance Improvement

Participates in projects focused on improving:

First case on-time starts

Turnover times

Room utilization

Block utilization

Patient satisfaction

Staff engagement

Surgical Site Infection prevention

Documentation compliance

Regulatory compliance

Financial stewardship

Uses departmental metrics to identify improvement opportunities.

Equipment and Supply Management

Assists with equipment troubleshooting.

Coordinates urgent equipment needs.

Supports implementation of new technology.

Assists with product evaluations.

Collaborates with Sterile Processing regarding instrumentation availability.

Identifies supply utilization opportunities.

Communication

Maintains effective communication with:

Surgical Services Director

Nurse Managers

Clinical Coordinators

Charge Nurses

Physicians

Anesthesia

PACU

Pre-Op

Sterile Processing

Infection Prevention

Quality Department

Environmental Services

Communicates operational concerns promptly and professionally.

Administrative Responsibilities

Assists leadership with operational reporting.

Monitors productivity indicators.

Documents operational issues.

Participates in departmental committees.

Assists with policy implementation.

Supports strategic departmental initiatives.

Leadership Competencies

Demonstrates competency in:

Clinical decision-making

Critical thinking

Conflict resolution

Change management

Coaching and mentoring

Team building

Communication

Accountability

Customer service

Physician relations

Time management

Operational leadership

Resource management

Emotional Intelligence

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Southeast Georgia Health System