Registered Inpatient Nurse - Surgical Services

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

Job Family

Nursing: Nursing provides patient care, promotes health, prevents illness and supports positive patient care outcomes through comprehensive care and patient advocacy.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Job Subfamily

Intraoperative nurses play a critical role in the operating room in all surgical settings by managing the overall environment, ensuring patient safety, and supporting the surgical team during procedures. This nurse acts as the patient’s advocate throughout the intraoperative phase, coordinating care and maintaining sterile conditions.

Career Level

N2: Provides care to patients in structured environments. Performs established nursing interventions using current clinical knowledge. Begins mentoring and supporting peers. Applies knowledge of disease processes and treatments. Demonstrates growing clinical judgment in patient care. Manages moderately complex cases. Identifies subtle changes in patient status and independently initiates appropriate interventions. Works with intermediate support. Manages care independently within established protocols. Explains care plans to patients and families. Participates in team discussions and interdisciplinary planning.

Essential Functions

• Performs all essential functions of an N1 and functions as a fully competent and independent Inpatient Intraoperative Nurse across all surgical service lines.
• Demonstrates full working knowledge of surgical instrumentation, equipment, and procedural flow, serves as a resource to the surgical technologist, and independently troubleshoots equipment off the sterile field.
• Manages increasingly complex but generally stable intraoperative cases, performs the comprehensive nursing process, anticipates downstream needs (e.g., imaging, implants, vendor coordination), and initiates appropriate actions independently.
• Sets up and manages specialized equipment and supplies (e.g., robotics, advanced positioning, imaging, implants, trays) and resolves routine workflow, equipment, and supply chain issues in real time.
• Adjusts intraoperative workflow to prevent delays through readiness checks and contingency planning while maintaining safety and sterility.
• Provides targeted patient and family education for moderately complex procedures and ensures thorough handoffs to PACU or ICU per protocol.
• Precepts task based skills for N1 staff (e.g., room setup, counts, sterile practice), assists with onboarding and education of new team members, and serves as a go to resource within the home service.
• Works rotating schedules, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and maintains reliable and punctual attendance to meet 24/7 operational needs.

Licenses Required

• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Utah, or obtain one within 90 days of hire under the interstate compact if switching residency to State of Utah. Must maintain current Interstate Compact (multi-state) license if residency is not being changed to Utah.

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position involves intensive work that may exert up to 100 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects, such as medical equipment, or patients while providing medical care. Workers in this position may be exposed to infectious diseases and may be required to function around prisoners and behavioral health patients.