Job Title: Perioperative Nurse Leader

Job Description

This role leads daily operations across the Operating Room (OR), Pre-Admission Testing (PAT), Pre-Op, and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) departments in a specialty surgical hospital. The Perioperative Nurse Leader oversees a large clinical team, drives quality and safety, optimizes patient flow and operational performance, and plays a key role in strategic planning and growth initiatives for Surgical Services.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage daily operations across OR, PAT, Pre-Op, and PACU departments.
• Supervise, support, and develop a team of approximately 50 clinical employees.
• Recruit, coach, mentor, and retain top perioperative and surgical services talent.
• Create and manage staffing plans, schedules, and workforce optimization strategies.
• Partner closely with surgeons and procedural teams to improve efficiency and patient flow.
• Support the implementation, adoption, and optimization of new technology and clinical systems, including EMR systems.
• Ensure ongoing readiness for Joint Commission surveys and maintain full regulatory compliance.
• Monitor and analyze quality, safety, patient experience, and operational performance metrics.
• Participate in strategic planning and growth initiatives for Surgical Services and multi-specialty surgical programs.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within perioperative services.
• Lead nurse workflow management in partnership with physicians and surgeons to enhance clinical care and throughput.
• Oversee OR, PACU, and PAT operations to ensure consistent, high-quality patient care.
• Serve as a strong mentor and people leader, providing guidance, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Champion innovative, solutions-focused approaches to operational and clinical challenges.
• Support EMR implementations or workflow transformation initiatives to streamline perioperative processes.

Essential Skills

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license.
• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Kansas or Missouri.
• Progressive work experience in an Operating Room setting.
• 5+ years of Operating Room experience (preferred).
• 2+ years of leadership experience managing perioperative or surgical services (preferred).
• Experience overseeing OR, PACU, and/or PAT operations.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop clinical teams.
• Experience managing nurse workflows in partnership with physicians and surgeons.
• Joint Commission compliance and survey readiness experience.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Effective problem-solving skills with a solutions-focused mindset.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), or ALS and PALS certifications, or the ability to obtain these within six months of employment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience leading multi-specialty surgical programs, including Orthopedics, GI, Pain Management, ENT, and Vascular services.
• Experience supporting EMR implementations or workflow transformation initiatives.
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) or higher.
• Team-oriented and collaborative leadership style.
• Innovative and solutions-focused approach to clinical and operational challenges.
• Dedication to patient care excellence and high-quality outcomes.
• Strong mentoring and people leadership capabilities.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and driven by results and continuous improvement.
• Passion for making a meaningful impact on patients, staff, and overall organizational success.
• Management and leadership experience within hospital or surgical services environments.
• Experience working in hospital-based operating rooms and perioperative areas.
• Scheduling and workforce management experience within clinical settings.

Work Environment

This position is based in a specialty hospital setting that focuses on surgical care within a multi-specialty surgical environment, including Orthopedics, GI, Pain Management, ENT, and Vascular services. The typical schedule is Monday through Friday, roughly 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with some flexibility, and an approximately 40-hour work week. The role includes participation in a rotating call schedule, which is rarely required to be onsite and primarily involves answering calls as needed. There are no weekend or holiday work requirements