OR Nurse Transition to Practice Program; RN

Location Detail: 79 Jefferson St HH Bliss Wing (10064)

Work where every moment matters.
Every day, more than 40,000 Hartford Health Care colleagues come to work with one thing in common:
Pride in what we do, knowing every moment matters here. We invite you to become part of Connecticut’s most comprehensive healthcare network.
Hartford Hospital is one of the largest and most respected teaching hospitals New England. We are a Level 1 Trauma Center that provides cutting edge treatment to its patients. This is made possible by being home to the largest robotic surgery center in the Northeast and the Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation (CESI), one of the most-advanced medical simulation training centers in the world.

When hospitals cannot provide the advanced care, expertise and new treatment options their patients require, they turn to us.

Program Description:

PLEASE READ ENTIRE POSTING BEFORE APPLYING – ADDITIONAL MATERIALS ARE REQUIRED

Hartford Hospital has implemented a comprehensive transition to practice program for novice operating room nurses. This program aligns with Hartford Healthcare’s values of excellence, safety, caring and integrity by offering a blended and multimodal approach to ensuring novice OR nurses master the necessary competencies to provide high quality and safe patient care.

Candidates are hired into the OR Transition to Practice Program in cohorts. Below are the cohort start dates for 2026 and Final date to receive applicationss:

· February 9th , 2026 (Final date to receive applications December 26, 2025)

· April 20th , 2026 (Final date to receive applications March 6th , 2026)

· August 24th , 2026 (Final date to receive applications July 10th , 2026)

· November 2nd , 2026 (September 18th , 2026)

The OR Transition to Practice Program is open to new graduate registered nurses and experienced nurses (non-OR experience). This 12-month long program is divided into two main phases:

Introduction to Perioperative Nursing :
During the first 4 months of the program, learners can expect to be immersed in a multimodal learning experience through evidence-based learning modules (AORN Periop 101), classroom/group learning, simulation and clinical experiences to master the foundational perioperative nurse competencies. To facilitate the ideal learning experience, the schedule during this initial learning period will be Monday – Friday 7a-3:30p . At completion of phase one of the OR RN Transition to Practice Program, the learner will complete their Periop 101 final exam.

Clinical Orientation (Unit Specific) :
The remaining 6-7 months are spent immersed in the clinical environment mastering the unit-based nursing competencies. You will follow your departmental schedule and mirror that of your preceptor(s). This portion of the program is tailored to the unique needs of the learner and the unit in which they are employed (see more about each eligible unit below). Additional components of this portion of the program include professional practice, professional development and professional governance.

Throughout the entirety of the program, learners can expect to be mentored by their unit-based preceptors, management team and members of the Nursing Professional Development team (Unit Nurse Educators). You will meet regularly to ensure you are supported and set up for success in your new role.

New graduate nurses will also be enrolled in our Hartford Healthcare Graduate Nurse Residency program to facilitate their transition to professional nursing practice.

The Role of the OR Nurse:

Operating Room (OR) nurses, also known as perioperative nurses, play a crucial role in providing care before, during, and after surgery. They work closely with the surgical team to deliver safe, high-quality care and are responsible for ensuring patient safety throughout the perioperative environment. OR nurses may take on various roles in the surgical team, depending on their responsibilities.

Scrub Nurse :
Scrub nurses work directly within the sterile field and assist the surgical team by preparing instruments, equipment, and sterile supplies, passing instruments to the surgeon during the procedure, maintaining a…