What do OR nurses do, how much do they earn, and what's the job outlook for perioperative nursing in the future? From education and certification to salary and more, here's what you should know about OR nurse jobs and where to find them.
> Ready for your next nursing career opportunity? Search OR nurse jobs now
What is OR Nursing? Definition & Job Duties
An operating room (OR) nurse is a nursing professional who specializes in supporting surgical procedures for both clinical teams and patient and families, from preparation to post-op recovery.
What do OR nurses do?
From prepping patients to assisting during surgical procedures to managing the OR itself — including ensuring that all equipment is stocked, sanitized, and fully prepped — OR nurse jobs involve many important duties.
Other common responsibilities include educating patients and families, documenting surgical events, and overseeing anesthesia recovery. Senior-level and leadership roles may also help develop care plans, order inventory, and supervise other nurses, clinicians, aides, and surgical technologists.
What are the different types of OR nurses?
In some facilities, an OR nurse could do any or all of these tasks. Most of the time, though, OR nurse jobs are divided into specialized roles, collectively called perioperative nursing jobs:
- Scrub nurses prepare the OR, pass surgical instruments, and prep patients
- Circulating nurses oversee sterility and patient safety, and watch for issues
- Preoperative (Pre-Op) RNs manage pre-surgery patient care and prep
- RN First Assistants (RNFAs) assist during surgery, managing incisions and bleeding, and helping stabilize patients
- Post-op (PACU) nurses provide care after surgery and during recovery
Where do OR and perioperative nurses work?
Because they specialize in the operating room, OR nurses work mostly in hospitals, health centers, and standalone surgical facilities. Some OR nursing jobs are also available in schools, colleges, and research facilities.
-
Did you know? Many OR jobs are now scheduled as three 12-hour shifts.
OR Nursing Jobs: Future Career Outlook
Official sources predict a 6% yearly growth rate in jobs for RNs in general. And for OR nurses, the outlook is even better.
With the return of elective surgeries, demand surged for OR nurses after the pandemic. That trend has continued since, thanks to new surgical treatments, retiring RNs, and an older population with a higher need for surgical intervention.
-
Did you know? The city with the highest demand for OR nurses is currently Austin, Texas. Learn more about working in Austin here.
Salary & earnings: How much do OR nurses earn?
Salaries for all RNs have climbed in recent years, with a current average of $97,550 per year (or $46.90 hourly) — and OR nursing jobs pay as much as 25% more than that average. The exact perioperative nurse salary you'll earn depends on factors like location, type of facility, and what level of experience, specialization, and certifications you're bringing to the job.
How to earn more as an OR nurse
Some facilities pay OR nurses more for night and weekend shifts, and others provide sign-on or referral bonuses. You can also boost your earnings by getting certifications, or working in per diem, travel, or local contract positions.
Per diem nursing jobs often pay more per hour and provide career flexibility, while travel jobs provide a housing stipend that covers your cost of living. Nurse travelers can also work in dozens of states with just one license, making traveling easy for most RNs.
-
Why travel? Learn about the benefits of travel nursing here.
How to Become an Operating Room (OR) Nurse
To work in perioperative nursing you must be an RN, which requires earning a degree and then passing the NCLEX-RN exam.
What type of degree should you get? While some OR nurse jobs are open to RNs with an associate degree (ADN), getting a bachelor degree (BSN) usually leads to more opportunities and higher pay.
How do you get experience to work an OR nursing jobs?
While some entry-level jobs are available to new grads, most OR nursing jobs (especially travel and contract) require a year or two of experience. You can get that with internships or training programs, or by working in similar acute care settings like med-surg or intensive care. Search nursing jobs here.
What certifications do you need for OR nurse jobs?
Gaining operating room experience goes hand-in-hand with earning the most important OR nursing certification. The Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) credential requires at least two years and 2,400 hours of experience (and at least 1,200 hours in direct surgery). And it opens the door to more specialized certifications that can unlock even more career opportunities:
- Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA)
- Certified Surgical Services Leader (CSSL) (formerly Certified Surgical Services Manager, or CSSM)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist Perioperative Certification (CNS-CP®)
Like most other nurses, OR nurses also need Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Many jobs also require Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
What other skills should OR nurses have?
In addition to clinical skills, OR nurse jobs usually require specific soft skills like:
- Communication and teamwork to work efficiently (and quickly) with others
- Leadership to supervise CNAs, techs, and other nurses
- Adaptability to respond calmly in stressful situations
- Attention to detail to manage inventory, and follow and improve procedures
What associations should OR nurses join?
Joining the right group can keep you informed on best practices while providing opportunities to earn career-enhancing CE credits and network with like-minded professionals and industry leaders.
-
The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and the American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association (APSNA) are great choices for OR nurses.
-
Travel OR nurses should also consider attending TravCon for insights into the contractor lifestyle.
Find the Best OR Nurse Jobs with HealthTrust
Whether you prefer to work permanent or per diem, travel or contract, in a resource pool or as an interim leader, you'll find the best jobs with HealthTrust! Search OR nurse jobs now to see what's available when you want to work.
