OR RN Circulator
Grants, NM
PRIDE Health
4x10 hrs, Days
Referral Bonus

OR RN Circulator - Contract Position

Location: Grants, New Mexico
Employment Type: Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks
Shift: 1st Shift
Hours per Week: 40

Job Summary

The Operating Room RN Circulator provides professional nursing care to patients undergoing surgical procedures. This role involves managing overall nursing care in the OR, ensuring a safe and sterile environment, coordinating the surgical team, and maintaining accountability for supplies, equipment, and documentation. The position requires versatility, strong clinical judgment, and the ability to work effectively in a hospital environment with limited resources and frequent on-call demands.

Key Responsibilities

• Verify patient identity, surgical site, consent, and history; perform preoperative assessments and participate in time-out procedures.
• Advocate for the anesthetized patient throughout the perioperative phase.
• Prepare the OR suite with necessary equipment, supplies, and instruments prior to procedures.
• Anticipate and respond to the needs of the surgical team.
• Monitor and maintain aseptic/sterile technique; report any breaks in technique.
• Manage non-sterile aspects of the procedure including opening sterile supplies, handling specimens, documenting intraoperative events, and coordinating with anesthesia, surgeons, and scrub personnel.
• Account for all sponges, sharps, and instruments (surgical counts).
• Continuously assess patient status, vital signs, and physiological responses; collaborate with anesthesia providers to ensure patient stability.
• Provide comfort measures and maintain a safe physical environment.
• Accurately document nursing care, medications, implants, supplies, and patient responses in the electronic health record.
• Maintain inventory of supplies, ensure functionality of equipment, and participate in cost-effective resource utilization.
• Assist with patient transfer to PACU or other units, provide hand-off report, and ensure continuity of care.
• Respond promptly to emergencies including trauma activations, code situations, or complications; participate in on-call rotation for after-hours surgical emergencies.
• Adhere to AORN standards, infection control policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in performance improvement, safety initiatives, and staff education.
• Collaborate with a small, multidisciplinary team in a resource-limited setting; assist in other perioperative areas as needed (e.g., PACU, pre-op).

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in New Mexico
• Minimum 3 years of Operating Room Circulator experience, including experience within the last year
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Experience

• Minimum 12 years of Operating Room experience as a Circulator strongly preferred.
• Experience in a Critical Access Hospital, rural, or small facility is a plus.
• Preferred experience in general surgery, orthopedics, OB/GYN, endoscopy, and minor trauma.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of surgical procedures, aseptic technique, and perioperative nursing standards.
• Excellent communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced, high-stress environment.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Commitment to patient safety and teamwork in a collaborative, rural healthcare setting.
• Proficiency with electronic medical records.

Additional Information

• Prior travel experience is required.