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OR / PACU Charge Nurse (RN)

The Richland Hospital, Inc., Madison, WI, United States


Location: The Richland Hospital – Richland Center, WI

Schedule: 1.0 FTE M-F

Position Summary
The OR/PACU Charge Nurse provides clinical, operational, and leadership oversight for the Operating Room (OR) and Post‑Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) during daily hours of operation and on‑call periods. This role is a hands‑on perioperative leader and generalist, balancing charge nurse responsibilities with direct patient care.

In our rural hospital setting, the OR/PACU Charge Nurse ensures safe surgical and recovery care, efficient patient flow, regulatory compliance, and strong collaboration across perioperative services while supporting staff, surgeons, and anesthesia providers.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Core competency is demonstrated by the ability to carry out the following responsibilities:

Provide shift oversight of nursing care delivery and adherence to standards, policies, and procedures

Supervise staff and offer professional coaching, feedback, and support

Assess patient care activities and the environment to identify continuous improvement opportunities

Coordinate daily staffing based on surgeon block schedules and departmental needs

Serve as a clinical resource expert for perioperative nursing care and procedures

Assist with challenging situations through effective communication, de‑escalation, and risk mitigation; utilize debriefing processes and elevate concerns to the Surgery Director as appropriate

Anticipate patient, staff, and team needs to improve outcomes and operational efficiency

Problem‑solve and adjust staffing to maintain safe, effective operations

Support orientation and preceptorship of new staff

Provide direct patient care in the OR and PACU as needed while balancing charge nurse responsibilities

Conduct and facilitate staff huddles in the manager’s absence

Address surgeon and CRNA needs to support efficient surgical services

Maintain comprehensive working knowledge of unit policies, procedures, and available resources

Act as a liaison to medical staff and collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary departments

Assist with evaluation and utilization of clinical equipment

Adhere to and promote the 7 C’s among team members

Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in good standing

Minimum of 1 year combined OR and PACU experience, or equivalent; rural or community hospital experience preferred

Demonstrated ability to work independently and lead effectively in low‑resource settings

Current BLS required

ACLS and PALS required within six months of hire

Why Join The Richland Hospital?

Make a meaningful impact in a close‑knit rural healthcare setting

Work in a collaborative, team‑oriented environment

Opportunity to lead while remaining hands‑on in patient care

Supportive leadership focused on quality, safety, and staff development

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