Travel Nurse RN - Operating Room in Chicago, IL

Registered Nurse (RN) | Operating Room

Location:

Chicago, IL

Agency:  Ambition 24

Hours

Pay:  Competitive weekly pay (inquire for details)

Shift Information:  Days - 5 days x 8 hours

Contract Duration:  7 Weeks

Start Date:

ASAP

About the Position
Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) - Operating Room (OR)
Industry:
Healthcare / Health Services
Job Category:
Medical / Health - Nursing

Location:

Chicago, IL (In-Person, Full-Time, Monday-Friday, Day Shifts Starting 6:30/7:00 AM, On-Call Rotation)
Salary:  $83000 - $110000

Position Summary:

The Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) assists surgeons during operative procedures, performing advanced technical functions under supervision. This role delivers pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative nursing care to enhance surgical outcomes, improve efficiency, and ensure patient safety.
Role & Responsibilities
Pre-Operative Duties
Conduct comprehensive patient assessments including history review and physical evaluation.

Provide pre-surgical patient and family education and teaching.

Ensure proper surgical positioning, preparation, and draping of the patient.

Intra-Operative Duties (as RN First Assistant)
Provide surgical field exposure using retractors, suction, and sponges.

Achieve hemostasis through clamping, ligating vessels, electrocautery, and applying pressure.

Handle tissues appropriately and perform precise dissection of vessels, muscle, and fascia.

Perform suture closures under supervision including peritoneum, fascia, subcuticular, and skin.

Place drains as directed by the surgeon.

Assist in advanced specialties such as CVOR, orthopedics, robotics, or cardiopulmonary bypass cannulation.

Maintain aseptic technique, instrument sterilization, and participate in instrument/sponge counts.

Post-Operative Duties
Apply and manage surgical dressings.

Evaluate post-operative patients for complications and provide teaching.

Ensure seamless transition of care through team collaboration.

Document perioperative events in EMR systems.

Collaboration & Leadership
Coordinate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, scrub/circulating nurses, and perioperative staff.

Provide OR leadership, uphold nursing standards, and mentor junior staff.

Participate in continuous quality improvement (CQI), research, performance evaluations, and in-services.

Physical/Environmental Requirements
Prolonged standing, lifting/positioning adult patients (up to 35 lbs), maintaining dexterity under sterile conditions.

Exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and hazardous materials.

Minimum Qualifications

Required:

Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in Illinois.

Completion of accredited RNFA program (didactic & clinical per AORN standards).

Perioperative nursing certification (CNOR) required before or shortly after hire.

RNFA certification (CRNFA) from recognized board within 2 years of hire.

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

2+ years OR experience as scrub or circulating RN.

Preferred:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.

Experience across multiple surgical specialties (cardiothoracic, orthopedics, robotics).

EMR experience (Cerner, Surgi Net, Meditech).

Specialty training in robotics or perfusion assistance.

Additional Details:
Full-time position.

Operating Room setting, surgery specialties.

In-person work location.

Apply now to join a mission-driven team delivering exceptional perioperative care!