Circulating Operating Room Nurse

Under general direction of the Perioperative Services Director, the Circulating Operating Room Nurse's primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and well-being of the patients undergoing surgical interventions. Adhering to the nursing process and current standards of practice, as outlined by the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN), the circulating nurse ensures the safety and success of surgical procedures by managing various aspects of the operating room (OR) environment. Working closely with surgical teams, anesthesia providers, and other healthcare professionals, the Circulating Operating Room Nurse oversees the flow of activities within the OR, coordinates patient care, and maintains adherence to sterile techniques and safety protocols.  

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Circulating Operating Room Nurse is distinguished from other nursing classifications in  that incumbents independently perform professional perioperative nursing work in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of surgery in a trauma/acute care setting.

The ideal candidate for this position will have a keen eye for detail, ensuring that all necessary equipment, instruments, and supplies are available and prepared for each surgical procedure. Additionally, they will demonstrate strong critical thinking and communication skills, to collaborate effectively with all members of the surgical team to ensure optimal patient care. Lastly, the ideal candidate will be flexible and adaptable and respond calmly in an unpredictable environment and changes while maintaining high ethical and professional conduct.

What We Offer 
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, subject to eligibility requirements, that includes:

• Educational/Bilingual Incentive: Incumbents may be eligible for an educational incentive of 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5% based on completion of an Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's degree. Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill.  
• Certification Pay: $0.813 per hour based on scheduled work week hours for each qualified certification up to a maximum of five (5) certifications. One of the five certifications may be paid at $2.00 per hour for a National Certification. List provided in the MOA, Exhibit 9.
• Evening Shift Differential - 7.5%
• Night Shift Differential – 15%
• Weekend Shift Differential - $2.00 per hour
• Charge Nurse Premium Pay - $2.50 per hour and $1.50 per hour if assigned patients
• Preceptor Pay – $2.50 per hour
• Standby Premium Pay – ¼ of regular hourly wage or Federal minimum wage (whichever is greater)
• Critical Staffing Shift -$200 for a 12-hour shift; $167 for a 10-hour shift; $135 for an 8-hour shift; $100 for a 6-hour shift
• In-House Registry Pay:
  • Non-overtime is 1.75 times straight time base hourly rate
  • Overtime is 2 times straight time base hourly rate
• Continuous County Service Incentive Pay: 1% for 7 years, 1.25% for 12 years and 1.5% for 17 years
• Flexible Credit Allowance: Biweekly contribution towards medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from authorized plans.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 2% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Pension Plan: Participation in the County's defined benefit pension plan. If eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems such as CalPERS. 
• To learn more about the benefits, please follow the link below: CNA_MOA_2023-2028.pdf (ventura.org) 

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Health Care Agency - Ventura County Medical Center/Santa Paula Hospital

Registered Operating Room Nurse is represented by the California Nurses' Association (CNA) and is eligible for overtime compensation. Salary placement will be determined according to the current California Nurses' Association (CNA) memorandum of agreement.  

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies. There is currently one Regular vacancy at the Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC).

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
OPENING DATE:  April 24, 2024
CLOSING DATE:  Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs. It is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible.Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Ensures that the surgical room is sterile and safe for the patient and ensures that the sterile field is not compromised during the procedure (including surgical counts, time outs, positioning, and traffic control, and keeping a clutter free environment);
• Leads and coordinates all communications and activities among team members, including using the white board, coordinating the use of equipment, and contacting other providers when services are required, etc.;
• Prepares the patient for the procedure, which includes reviewing medical records & history, patient assessment, review of consent and test results, verification of surgical site; handles the preparation for the operating room, before the surgery takes place, ensuring all necessary equipment, instruments, supplies, medications, and imaging are available; and communicates with physician on any concerns raised by these activities;
• Assists anesthesia caring for the patient during induction, extubating, and emergence to ensure the safety of the patient;
• Anticipates the needs of the surgeon, surgical assistants, anesthesiologists, and surgical technicians during the surgical procedure;
• Documents events, implants, specimen handling, medication administration, and patient status;
• Provides direction to other health care professionals and ancillary staff who are participating in the care of the patient;
• Provides oversight to other operating room personnel; 
• Monitors the overall well-being of the patient during the surgical procedure;
• May transport specimens that require diagnostic testing to the laboratory, handles and cares for specimens and appropriately documents the disposition of the specimen;
• Orients qualified candidates and new personnel on hospital policies and procedures;
• Provides emotional support for the patient and family members before, during, and after the surgical procedure; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE
Graduation from an accredited school of nursing; AND, one (1) year of recent full-time experience in a perioperative setting. 
 
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess and maintain a current, valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California
• Must have a current, valid Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification by first day of employment.
• Must be willing and able to take after-hour calls and weekend calls.

DESIRED

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN)
• Possession of a Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
• Possession of an Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification
• Possession of a Certified Nurse, Operating Room (CNOR) certification
• Possession of a Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certification
• Prior Tier 2 trauma center experience

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:
Thorough knowledge of:

• The theories, techniques, and practices used in advanced nursing care of specialized units, including an acute care operating room; 
• Surgical procedures, anatomy, and instrumentation;
• Medical terminology; 
• Hospital routine and equipment; and 
• Medicines and narcotics.

Working knowledge and proficiency with:

• Electronic medical records ("EMR") systems.

Skill in: 

• Effective leadership, problem solving, collaboration, and communication; 

Ability to:

• Plan and organize nursing care with a high level of attention to detail, work in a high-pressure environment, remain calm in a crisis, and handle long, arduous work hours; 
• Orient new staff;
• Be a self-starter;
• Make critical decisions based on available information about the patient;
• Coordinate the patient's health care;
• Collaborate with physician and other health care professionals;
• Direct the activities of other operating room personnel;
• Maintain the confidentiality of patient/client information;
• Establish and maintain effective interpersonal relations with other staff members, patients, and their families in difficult situations; and
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it.  Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.  

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs.  If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Note to Applicants:  It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications.  A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

LATERAL TRANSFER: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible.  If interested, please click here for additional information. 

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying:  All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam AT THE TIME OF FILING.  The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position.  Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION – 100%:  An application evaluation will be conducted to determine whether each applicant possesses the required licensure, certification, and experience for this recruitment. A score of 70 will be assigned to each applicant meeting the stated requirements. Such score will be considered as the final score for placement on the eligible list.

Applicants successfully completing the exam process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year. 

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION:  A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information and driving record may be required for this position.
 
For further information about this recruitment, please contact Vivian Merida via email at Vivian.Merida@ventura.org or by telephone at (805) 677-5231.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.