Operating Room Registered Nurse
- Eligibility
- RN
- Unit
- Nurse
San Francisco, California
$153,887–$228,000/year
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Schedule and commitments
- Term
- Permanent
The work and the unit
- Specialty
- Nurse
Pay and benefits
- Against the board
- Top of San Francisco staff pay
Do you qualify?
- Certification
- Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) certification.
- Experience
- Two or more years of circulating and scrub nurse experience.
- Also asks
- Salary for this position ranges dependent upon applicant qualifications Grade 1 Level I-III: $153,887-$204,663 annually Grade 2: $176,969-$228,000 annually Grade 3: $194,665-$228,000 annually Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
- Also asks
- Physical
What's around it?
Living costs about 16% above the US average
- Address
- 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA, 94121-1545
- Median rent
- $2,476/mo
- Household income
- $140,970/yr, all local households, not nurse pay
About this role
The Operating Room Registered Nurse provides comprehensive professional nursing care to Veterans undergoing surgical and invasive procedures within the Department of Veterans Affairs, San Francisco VA Medical Center. The nurse functions as a member of the perioperative team and is responsible for promoting patient safety, coordinating and delivering nursing care, and ensuring quality outcomes throughout the perioperative experience.
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
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EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA. ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
Learn more VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Major duties and responsibilities of the position: Provides direct nursing care to Veterans before, during, and after surgical and invasive procedures. Performs comprehensive preoperative assessments, including review of medical history, medications, allergies, laboratory results, diagnostic studies, and surgical consent. Verifies patient identity, procedure, surgical site, allergies, and other required safety information in accordance with established perioperative safety standards.
Performs and documents the nursing assessment and develops an individualized plan of care based on the patient's condition and surgical needs. Functions as the circulating RN, maintaining responsibility for patient safety, aseptic technique, documentation, positioning, equipment, supplies, and coordination of the surgical environment. May function as a scrub RN, assisting with sterile procedures, instrumentation, supplies, and surgical counts according to competency and facility requirements.
Participates in surgical time-outs and other patient-safety processes to prevent wrong-patient, wrong-site, and wrong-procedure events. Monitors the patient's condition throughout the surgical procedure and promptly identifies and communicates changes in patient status. Ensures appropriate positioning and protection of the patient to prevent injury, pressure injuries, nerve damage, and other perioperative complications.
Performs accurate counts of instruments, sharps, sponges, and other surgical items in collaboration with the surgical team. Maintains strict adherence to infection prevention and control practices, including sterile technique and appropriate handling of surgical instruments and specimens. Prepares, operates, and troubleshoots perioperative equipment and ensures necessary supplies and instruments are available for scheduled procedures.
Handles, labels, and transports surgical specimens according to established policies and procedures. Administers medications and treatments within the RN's scope of practice and applicable VA policies. Provides postoperative assessment and nursing care, including monitoring for complications and coordinating the patient's transition to the appropriate postoperative care area.
Provides education to Veterans and families regarding surgical procedures, postoperative care, medications, wound care, and recovery instructions. Recognizes and responds appropriately to emergency situations, including hemorrhage, cardiac or respiratory compromise, anaphylaxis, and other intraoperative complications. Participates in emergency and urgent surgical procedures as required.
Accurately documents nursing care, assessments, interventions, medications, surgical counts, specimens, and patient responses in the electronic health record. Collaborates with surgeons, anesthesia providers, surgical technologists, nursing staff, and other interdisciplinary team members to coordinate safe and effective patient care. Participates in quality improvement, patient safety, infection prevention, and performance improvement activities within the Operating Room and Perioperative Service.
Maintains current knowledge and competency in perioperative nursing practices, surgical procedures, equipment, infection prevention, and patient-safety standards. Assists with orientation, training, and competency development of new staff and nursing students when assigned. Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Licensure
1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Full-time, hours vary on patient care needs Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Basic
Requirements
English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U. S. C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program.
Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).
Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade.
The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13064928. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex.
An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations.
An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience.
Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Preferred
Experience
Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) certification. Two or more years of circulating and scrub nurse experience. Salary for this position ranges dependent upon applicant qualifications Grade 1 Level I-III: $153,887-$204,663 annually Grade 2: $176,969-$228,000 annually Grade 3: $194,665-$228,000 annually Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical
Requirements
This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. The position requires potentially, long periods of combined walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable or working effectively in stressful situation, able to shift priorities based on needs of the organization. The incumbent may be required to…
Care at San Francisco VA Medical Center
- Addiction and substance use care
- Advice nurse
- Audiology
- Cardiology
- Caregiver Support
- Complementary and integrative health
- Dental/oral surgery
- Dermatology
35 more services
- Emergency care
- Gastroenterology
- Geriatrics
- Gynecology
- Homeless Veteran care
- Infectious disease
- Laboratory and pathology
- Mental health care
- Military sexual trauma care
- Minority Veteran care
- Neurology
- Nutrition, food, and dietary care
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
- Orthopedics
- Otolaryngology
- Pain management
- Patient advocates
- Pharmacy
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Podiatry
- Primary care
- Prosthetics and rehabilitation
- Radiology
- Recreation and creative arts therapy
- Social work
- Suicide prevention
- Surgery
- Returning service member care
- Travel reimbursement
- Urology
- Vascular surgery
- Virtual Health Resource Center (VHRC)
- Whole health
- Women Veteran care
How this role fits you
About the employer
Workplace: San Francisco VA Medical Center.
Nationally the VA describes itself as the largest U.S. nurse employer, with more than 120,000 RNs, APNs, LPNs, and nursing assistants. The VA has said it is on pace to reduce staff by nearly 30,000 by the end of FY2025…
On your path
Operating Room is a specialty you move into. Periop programs often train from the ground up.
Worth asking
- Can you walk me through differentials?
- What should I expect for shifts, weekly hours, weekend, holiday, call, and rotation?
More questions to askFewer questions
- What orientation, preceptor time, and ongoing unit support are included?
- How are patient load, floating, and staffing support handled day to day?