Children's National Hospital·Alexandria, Virginia
The Operating Room Nurse provides comprehensive intraoperative patient care and manages the surgical environment to ensure safety and optimal outcomes. Responsibilities include preparing the OR, coordinating with the healthcare team, and adhering to strict safety protocols and documentation standards.
Kids Are Our Everything.
Department: 10071 Northern Virginia Clinics
$36.11 - $63.99
The Operating Room Nurse provides patient care in a surgical setting in accordance with applicable scope and standards of practice with the policies, values, and mission of the organization. Monitors and manages the patient and operative environment during surgery to maintain a safe environment, optimize outcomes and maximize available resources.
All nursing practice is based on the legal scope of practice, national and specialty nursing standards, Children's National Policies and Procedures, and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
The Professional Model of Care requires registered professional nurses to be responsible and accountable for their own practice.
Children's National supports the development of RN relationships within the community; specifically those relationships associated with the health and well-being of the community at large.
A RN is an independent practitioner who functions as an identified resource to staff in a patient care area.
H/She will provide comprehensive patient care to a variety of patients.
Incorporate all members of the health care team in the planning and delivery of patient care.
Will deal successfully with complex clinical problems.
Conduct quick assessment of patients and handle emergency situations appropriately.
Demonstrate evidence based practice through participation in unit projects and activities.
Minimum Education Associate's Degree Graduated from an approved school of nursing. (Required) Bachelor's Degree BSN (Preferred)
Minimum Work Experience 2 years At least 2 years of operating room experience required. (Required) 2 years Experience in at least two of the following specialties: Neurosurgery, Ortho, Ortho-Spine, General Surgery, Colorectal, ENT, Davinci Robotic, Kidney transplant. 1 year Pediatric OR experience preferred (Preferred)
Required Skills/Knowledge Successfully complete the hospital and nursing orientation at Children’s National.
Excel in organizational skills, adjust for changes and be able to complete assignment on time.
Care will incorporate best practices based on benchmarks and evidence within the literature Maintain proficiency in at least three or more of the following services: General Surgery, Colorectal, Kidney Transplant, ENT, Ortho/Ortho-spine, Neurosurgery, Cardiac Surgery, Urology/Davinci-Robotic, Plastic, Oral Maxillofacial, GI.
Knowledge of basic computer skill and ability to learn and apply new technology and skills Adaptability: Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusting effectively to change by exploring the benefits of trying new approaches, and collaborating with others to make the change successful Building Partnerships: Developing and leveraging relationships within and across work groups to achieve results Collaboration: Working cooperatively with others to help a team or work group achieve its goals Communication: Conveying information and ideas clearly and concisely to individuals or groups in an engaging manger that helps them understand and retain the message; listening actively to others.
Inclusive of written and verbal skills Diversity and Inclusion: Being sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, and other differences in the workforce; recognize the value of diverse perspectives and experiences and fosters a work environment reflective of the community at large.
Decision Making: Identifying and understanding problems and opportunities by gathering, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative information; choosing the best course of action by establishing clear decision criteria, generating and evaluating alternatives, and making timely decisions; taking the action that is consistent with available facts and constraints and optimizes probable consequences; demonstrating critical thinking skills by problem solving patient care, and unit/system issues.
Managing Relationships: Meeting the personal needs of individuals to build trust, encourage two-way communication and strengthen relationships Managing Work: Effectively manage ones time and resources to ensure work is completed efficiently
Required Licenses and Certifications Registered Nurse in District of Columbia Registered Nurse licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland or Virginia dependent upon location of practice. (Required)Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider (BLS) (Required) Certified Nurse OR (CNOR) (Preferred)
Functional Accountabilities Functions as an Operating Room Nurse
Consults and coordinates with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate intraoperative patient care plans.
Serves as the communication liaison to patients, families, and members of the operating team.
Prepares the operation room for the patient and the surgical procedure. Assembles equipment, supplies and implants, and ensures equipment is functional, and supplies and implants are available.
Delivers perioperative patient and family centered care incorporating the nursing process while providing developmentally appropriate, culturally sensitive, evidence based care.
Utilizes outcome data at the patient level to make care decisions.
Participates in the quality improvement activities and uses quality measures to understand individual and unit performance.
Provides direct guidance and oversight of the orientee in all patient care and clinical activities and ensures that those behaviors adhere to documentation standards, standards of care, and policies and procedures.
Participates in unit shared governance initiatives to improve patient care, throughput as determined by leadership.
Navigates and documents in the EMR to support patient care.
Works within scope of practice and delegates according to Nurse Practice Act.
Demonstrates the knowledge of risk and safety issues and uses measures to ensure optimal outcomes
Actively participates in Universal Protocol and timeout, including the fire risk assessment with the surgical team prior to the start of the surgical procedure according to hospital policy guidelines.
Completes post procedure pause at conclusion of surgical case.
Understands purpose of positioning devices and uses them correctly, following policy, to protect the patient from injury and to promote optimal exposure.
Follow established policy and procedures for instrument counts; initiate corrective actions when instrument counts are incorrect.
Verifies medications, concentrations, expiration dates of all medication received on the sterile filed in concert with ST, surgeon, and Anesthesia provider.
Communicates observations or concerns related to unsafe situations that pose a risk to patients, families or the healthcare team.
Stop in the face of uncertainty and take time to resolve the situation.
Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making.
Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication.
Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers.
Pay attention to detail, practice STAR - Stop, Think, Act, Review.
Assist the surgical team with emergency situations.
Demonstrates actions that shows accountability and professional judgment
Arrives to the unit on time.
Handles difficult situations appropriately.
Utilizes downtime constructively.
Complies with departmental policies and procedures.
Consistently participates in staff meeting and in-services to improve skills.
Completes, documents, and reports all mandatory education and training.
New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements
Initiate ways to improve operations through quality improvement and implement related solutions.
Serve as a resource for current, new information or changes in specialty area.
Care incorporates best practices based on benchmarks and evidence within the literature.
Mentor and precept new nurses in clinical specialties.
Transformational Leadership
Contribute to Magnet re-designation as evidenced by independent involvement or leadership in: committees, task forces and/or community outreach.
Role model critical thinking skills by problem-solving patient care and unit/system issues.
Communication reflects development of plan of care and ability to advocate to meet patients’ needs; makes suggestions for resolution of system issues.
Role model procedures for escalation of issues; utilize chain of command.
Demonstrate a collegial and respectful relationship with peers, physicians and other departments.
Demonstrate proper use of identified hand off processes; follow up on inconsistent practice related to handoff.
Take the lead in implementing change and support management decisions.
Role model behavior that reflects empathy, concern and a desire to help others.
Structural Empowerment
Independently maintain regulatory requirements e.g. license, BLS.
Initiate professional activities to enhance nursing practice.
Engage in active review of peers giving constructive feedback through timely participation in evaluations.
Role model adherence to national safety standards and service excellence standards; champion advancement of education and certification.
Orchestrate involvement of the healthcare team and role model professional behavior and teamwork with co-workers.
Serve as a resource as needed and know when to escalate to next level.
Exemplary Professional Practice
Analyze assessment data gathered from patient and family to ensure completion of database and plan of care within identified timeframes.
Role model excellent clinical skills with complex patients; care reflects analysis of patient status and appropriate interventions.
Direct prioritization and organization for complex patient with rapidly changing needs.
Documentation exemplifies adherence to the highest standards of practice.
Anticipate and proactively plan for educational needs; verify with patient and family throughout the hospital/outpatient stay and prior to discharge.
Excel in organizational skills, adjust for changes and be able to complete assignment on time.
Role model caring in all encounters with patient and family as evidenced by feedback from parents and an increase in patient satisfaction scores.
Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, prescription, infertility, and transgender health services.
Generous paid time off, including vacation accrual from day one, sick leave, holidays, and a personal day.
Financial wellness support, including a 401(k) plan and healthcare and dependent care spending accounts.
Employer-paid life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage, with optional supplemental plans.
Additional perks, including tuition assistance, fitness resources, employee assistance, commuter benefits, and more.
Nationally Recognized Excellence – Consistently ranked among the Top 10 Children’s Hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
Leading Pediatric Care – One of the largest and most comprehensive children’s hospitals in the country, offering nationally ranked specialties and cutting-edge treatments.
Innovation & Research – A premier academic medical center with a strong commitment to pediatric research, education, and advancing the future of child health.
The disclosed salary range includes the minimum and maximum rates within which Children’s National believes an individual’s base pay rate will fall for this position.
It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the maximum of the pay range.
The exact pay rate for this position will be based on a variety of factors in alignment with the Children’s National compensation philosophy.
These factors are legitimate and non-discriminatory including, but not limited to, the current market conditions; organizational needs; the individual’s combination of prior work experience, level of education, knowledge, skills, and other qualifications.
Children’s National is committed to providing a fair and competitive total rewards package to each of our employees.
This base salary range does not include our comprehensive benefits package or any additional compensation for which this position may be eligible.
Childrens National Hospital is an equal opportunity employer that evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, identity, or other characteristics protected by law. The “Know Your Rights” poster is available here: and the pay transparency policy is available here: Know Your RightsPay Transparency Nondiscrimination Poster.
Please note that it is the policy of Children's National Hospital to ensure a “drug-free” work environment: a workplace free from the illegal use, possession or distribution of controlled substances (as defined in the Controlled Substances Act), or the misuse of legal substances, by all staff (management, employees and contractors). Though recreational and medical marijuana are now legal in the District of Columbia, Children's National and its affiliates maintain the right, in accordance with our policy, to enforce a drug-free workplace, including prohibiting recreational or prescribed marijuana.
Requires an Associate's degree in nursing and at least 2 years of operating room experience, with proficiency in specific surgical specialties. Must hold a valid RN license in DC, MD, or VA and a BLS certification.
Market context
In Virginia, nursing-related roles are typically supported by steady demand across hospitals, clinics, and long-term care settings. These positions are competitive because employers often look for both patient-care experience and current credentials, and this role requires a high school diploma, BLS certification, and one of several entry pathways such as CNA, EMT-B, Medical Assistant graduate status, or nursing program progress. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your certification status and clinical hours before applying.
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