Registered Nurse (Intermittent) - Operating Room- Circulator

Pay Range:

The Registered Nurse (RN) provides professional nursing care across the lifespan in accordance with organizational standards, policies, and evidence-based practice. The RN utilizes the nursing process to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care while delivering high-quality, culturally sensitive, and patient-centered services. The RN collaborates with providers and interdisciplinary teams to promote optimal patient outcomes, safety, and positive patient experience.

A circulator nurse coordinates perioperative workflow outside the sterile field by preparing the patient, verifying documentation, ensuring equipment readiness, completing safety checklists, and facilitating communication among the surgical team. They serve as the patient’s advocate while maintaining situational awareness, anticipating needs, supporting sterile staff, and documenting key intraoperative events to keep the surgical environment safe and efficient. Circulator nurses are required to participate in on‑call coverage to support urgent and emergent surgical cases.

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health insurance, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

Patient Care

• Performs comprehensive patient assessments and develops individualized plans of care.

• Implements and evaluates nursing interventions and patient responses.

• Administers medications and treatments safely and accurately per provider orders and policy.

• Recognizes changes in patient condition and initiates appropriate interventions or escalation of care.

• Provides patient and family education related to care, medications, and discharge needs.

• Delivers culturally responsive, patient-centered care.

Nursing Judgment & Clinical Decision-Making (Alaska BON-Aligned)

Consistent with the Alaska Board of Nursing scope of practice for Registered Nurses, nursing judgment is essential to the safe, effective, and accountable delivery of nursing care. The Registered Nurse independently applies critical thinking and professional judgment to:

• Perform and interpret comprehensive assessments and recognize significant changes in patient condition requiring nursing intervention or provider notification.

• Exercise independent nursing judgment in determining appropriate nursing actions, interventions, and priorities, and in identifying when consultation, collaboration, or escalation to a licensed independent provider is required.

• Develop, implement, evaluate, and revise individualized nursing plans of care based on patient needs, responses, preferences, and clinical circumstances, rather than relying solely on standardized protocols.

• Integrate clinical findings with ethical principles, cultural considerations, patient safety standards, and regulatory requirements when making nursing decisions.

• Accept accountability for nursing decisions, delegated tasks, and outcomes of nursing care in accordance with Alaska statutes, regulations, and organizational policy.

Care Coordination & Documentation

• Collaborates with providers and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care.

• Facilitates referrals, follow-up care, and continuity of services.

• Documents assessments, interventions, and outcomes accurately and timely in the electronic health record.

• Advocates for patient care and assists patients in navigating the healthcare system.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Practices within nursing scope of practice and adheres to regulatory, safety, and infection prevention requirements.

• Participates in quality and performance improvement activities.

• Maintains required competencies and certifications.

• Reports adverse events, near misses, and unsafe conditions per policy.

Teamwork & Professional Practice

• Demonstrates professionalism, accountability, flexibility, and teamwork.

• Provides appropriate guidance and delegation to ancillary staff.

• Supports orientation, mentoring, and education of staff, students, and peers.

• Floats to other departments or assignments as needed.

Education & Licensure

• Associate’s degree in Nursing from an accredited program.

• Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the State of Alaska.

• Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) are all required

• Clinical competency required within 3 months and every 3 years.

• High Risk Competency required within 3 months and every year.

New Nursing Program Graduates:

• BLS required at the time of hire

• All certifications required for the area of practice must be obtained within six (6) months of hire (e.g., ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, ENPC, as applicable)

Experienced Nurses - New to a Specialty Area:

• Experienced nurses entering a new specialty must obtain all required specialty‑specific and advanced certifications within six (6) months of hire (e.g., ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, ENPC, based on practice area requirements)

Experienced Nurses:

• Nurses hired directly into a specialty area must provide evidence of current required certifications for the position at the time of hire (e.g., ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, ENPC, as applicable to practice area)

Nurses with Float Areas:

• Nurses who float to areas other than their primary location must complete the required certifications for the highest level specialty in which they will provide care 

High‑Risk Competency:

• High‑risk competency validation is required for direct patient care nursing roles.  The high-risk competencies are specific to the area of practice (e.g., proficiency in complex medical equipment, procedures, interventions, etc.).   Competency will be assessed before ending initial preceptorship and no less than annually thereafter. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of nursing principles, evidence-based practice, medication safety, and infection prevention.

• Strong clinical judgment, organization, prioritization, and communication skills.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

• Proficiency with electronic health records and clinical systems.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to lift, push, pull, and move up to 50 pounds.

• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform bending, stooping, and kneeling.

• Ability to work in a moderate-to-high noise clinical environment.

Safety Responsibility

• Employees are responsible for complying with safe work practices, reporting injuries and unsafe conditions, and cooperating in safety investigations.

Required Certifications:

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) - American Heart Association, Basic Life Support (BLS) - American Heart Association, Clinical Competency Assessment - SEARHC, High Risk Competency - SEARHC, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association, Registered Nurse License - State of Alaska - Alaska State Board of Nursing

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!