Perioperative Educator and Supervisor - Operating Room

Full Time, 8 Hour shifts

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director/Nurse Manager of OR and PACU, the OR/PACU Supervisor & Clinical Educator provides clinical leadership, operational oversight, staff development, and education for the Surgical Services department. This role is responsible for supporting daily OR and PACU operations, staffing and scheduling, quality improvement initiatives, regulatory compliance, policy development, staff orientation and competency programs, and ongoing clinical education. The incumbent collaborates with physicians, nursing staff, and leadership to promote a culture of safety, excellence, continuous learning, and outstanding patient outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities
Leadership & Operations:
Provides leadership within the OR and PACU and throughout the organization as needed.
Oversees daily patient care operations, patient flow, throughput management, and department efficiency.
Assists leadership with performance evaluations, staff development, quality improvement initiatives, and strategic departmental goals.
Attends and participates in leadership, departmental, and regulatory meetings as required.
Researches, develops, and implements policies and procedures based on departmental and organizational needs.
Maintains compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, including DNV, OSHA, Joint Commission, CMS, and other applicable requirements.
Partners with leadership to improve patient satisfaction, patient experience metrics, and department safety outcomes.
Staffing & Personnel Management:
Assists with staffing plans, schedule development, and daily staffing assignments for OR and PACU personnel.
Approves timecards and helps ensure staffing levels support patient care needs, physician schedules, productivity expectations, and budget requirements.
Coordinates onboarding, orientation, and competency validation for new employees.
Supervises and coordinates training activities for all new hires.
Supports professional growth and continuing education for clinical staff.

Clinical Education & Staff Development:
Coordinates employee orientation, annual competencies, mandatory education, in-services, CPR recertification, and continuing education programs.
Assesses learning needs and develops, delivers, or coordinates educational programs designed to improve staff performance and patient care outcomes.
Maintains documentation of curriculum, attendance records, competencies, and educational materials.
Provides education and competency validation for OR nursing and CST staff regarding pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative patient care.
Serves as a clinical resource for equipment troubleshooting, positioning devices, surgical technologies, and best practices.
Maintains and updates OR protocols and policies in accordance with AORN Guidelines and evidence-based practice standards.
Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of educational programs and implements improvements as necessary.
Provides support and education related to robotic surgical procedures and technologies.

Clinical Practice:
Maintains clinical competency and serves as a resource to staff within the surgical environment.
May assist as a circulating nurse, scrub nurse, or first assistant, as applicable and qualified.
Supports safe, high-quality patient care across all surgical specialties.

Knowledge & Experience
Minimum three (3) years of Operating Room experience required.
Five (5) or more years of Operating Room experience preferred.
Previous leadership, charge nurse, educator, or supervisory experience preferred.
Experience in staff education, orientation, competency assessment, and program development preferred.
Knowledge of AORN standards, regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, and quality improvement principles.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications including Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and related software.

Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.

Licensure & Certifications
Current Montana Registered Nurse (RN) License required.
BLS certification required.
ACLS required.
PALS required.
CNOR certification required; must be obtained within one (1) year of hire if not currently certified.