RN Surgical Circulator
Listed on 2026-01-12
-
Healthcare
Healthcare Nursing
JOB SUMMARY
The Surgical Circulator RN is a professional registered nurse responsible for the coordination and delivery of nursing care to patients undergoing surgical or invasive procedures. This role requires a comprehensive understanding of the perioperative process and serves as the patient’s advocate from preoperative preparation through postoperative handoff. The RN Circulator ensures patient safety, maintains sterile technique, supports the surgical team, and facilitates effective communication among all members of the operating room team.
The Surgical RN reports directly to the Surgery Charge Nurse/Perioperative Educator/Manager.
Education:
- RN graduate of Accredited School of Nursing.
Licensure/Certification:
- Must have valid, current license by the Missouri State Board of Nursing.
- Resuscitation (CPR) Required.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification / Cardiopulmonary.
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification preferred but not required.
Work Experience:
- Successful completion of hospital orientation.
- Assess patient condition prior to surgery, reviews documentation, and verifies informed consent.
- Alleviate patient and family concerns, providing education and reassurance.
- Verify surgical site and procedure with the surgical team according to established policies (time-out protocol).
- Other duties as assigned.
- Prepare the operating room with appropriate equipment, instruments, and supplies based on the surgeon’s preference card.
- Ensure adherence to aseptic and sterile technique throughout all procedures.
- Provide continuous assessment of the patient’s status, maintaining accurate and timely documentation in the intraoperative record.
- Coordinate surgical counts, specimen handling, and equipment usage according to established standards.
- Anticipate the needs of the surgical team to ensure the procedure progresses efficiently and safely.
- Maintain awareness of environmental safety, including proper patient positioning, equipment checks, and fire safety protocols.
- Participate in surgical debriefs and ensure completion of intraoperative documentation.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Ensure proper transfer of care through handoff communication to the post‑anesthesia care unit (PACU) or other receiving personnel.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Demonstrate effective communication, collaboration, and teamwork with surgeons, anesthesia providers, scrub personnel, and other perioperative staff.
- Assist with inventory control, equipment maintenance, and safe storage of supplies.
- Participate in orientation, mentoring, and ongoing education activities within the department.
- Support a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous quality improvement.
- Respond calmly and effectively in emergent situations.
- Other duties as assigned.
Demonstrates support for organizational and departmental mission.
Supports and demonstrates knowledge of the Strategic Plan and the Hospital Key Initiatives.
Fosters and promotes teamwork within department and the organization as a whole.
Works to resolve conflicts constructively and in a timely manner.
Ability to communicate effectively and simply with every customer and co-worker.
Ability to display a positive, courteous and friendly attitude toward all contacts.
Ability to build good relationships with others based upon a sustained effort of mutual support toward common goals.
Ability to exercise good judgment, reasoning and concentration to detail and to take personal accountability for all actions in carrying out job duties.
Is customer focused and committed to Quality and Process Improvement with a strong desire to provide service excellence.
Possesses and displays a strong knowledge and understanding of the standards of practice for their position including, if and when applicable, commensurate computer skills; population specific and general competencies; organizational skills, time and project management.
Possesses a vigorous and enthusiastic desire to learn and to…
(If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC).