Pre-op Nurse Job Description Template

Pre-operative nurses are essential to providing high-quality surgical care. They assist with patient admission, assess for risk factors, prepare patients for surgery, and coordinate treatment options with different members of the multidisciplinary team. If you’re looking to hire one of these clinicians for your peri-operative department, crafting a tailored pre-op nurse job description can help you find an employee with the skills for success.

In this article, we review the duties, skills, and qualifications of pre-operative nurses to help you recruit the best possible candidate. We also outline benefits, compensation, and flexible scheduling options that can help your position stand out among the competition.

Before you begin writing your job description, it can help to perform market research to see how other organizations advertise their nursing positions. Reviewing our pre-op nurse job postings can help refine your language and word choice to appeal to top candidates. You’ll then need to organize a set of pre-op nursing interview questions to ask your pool of qualified applicants. After completing these steps, you can focus on developing your job description.

Pre-Op Nurse

Tips: Start out your pre-op nurse job description by introducing your organization and the patient population you serve. Provide a brief description of the role and clarify the experience level you’re looking for. Sharing information on any awards, accolades, or certifications garnered by your team can give candidates insight into the exceptional care your facility provides.

Template:

Ready for an exciting next step in your peri-operative career? At [facility name], we’re looking to hire an experienced pre-operative nurse to join our surgical team. Ideal candidates will have at least three years of experience caring for adult and pediatric patients in an outpatient surgical setting.

Here at [facility name], we pride ourselves on our passion for patient safety, which is why we’ve been voted “Miami’s Safest Surgical Center” for the past two years. We’re excited to be expanding our industry-leading surgical intervention options and can’t wait to grow our dedicated and driven clinical team.

When you join our organization, you’ll have the opportunity to enroll in our full employee benefits package, which includes health insurance, tuition reimbursement, and subsidized transport to and from work. Continue reading as we outline the skills and qualifications we’re looking for and when you’re ready, apply below to join our team.

Benefits

Tips: Now that you’ve introduced the basics of the position, take the opportunity to highlight key elements of your employee benefits package. With benefits making up over 30% of a job’s total compensation package, it’s important to show them off near the top of your pre-op nurse job description. Be sure to list a variety of professional, financial, and lifestyle perks to help you appeal to a wide array of applicants.

Template:

• Competitive pay
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• FSA/HSA options
• 401(k) matching
• Paid vacation/holiday/family leave
• Free continuing education (CE) courses
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $5,000 per year

Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: Some facilities divide tasks between separate pre-operative and post-operative clinical teams, while others use one large perioperative team to assist with all stages of the surgical process. To prevent any confusion down the line, be sure to differentiate your organization’s pre-op nurse duties from those of a scrub or post-op nurse.

Job descriptions for pre-op nurses should also specify the clinical setting you’re hiring for. These employees work in a variety of patient care areas, including:

• Acute care hospitals
• Outpatient surgical centers
• Physician offices and clinics

Clarifying where the employee would be expected to work can help prospective candidates assess whether their unique clinical experience qualifies them for the role.

Template:

Pre-operative nurse duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Stocking medical supplies and preparing safety equipment in each patient room
• Performing pre-surgical assessments and documenting findings in the patient’s electronic health record (EHR)
• Communicating any patient allergies, anesthesia contraindications, and surgical risks with the surgical team
• Inserting and maintaining peripheral intravenous lines (PIVs)
• Providing the patient with the appropriate pain and anxiolytic medication and monitoring for complications
• Escorting the patient to the operating room and providing safe patient handoff to the receiving nursing team
• Educating patients and their family members on the surgical process and routinely updating them throughout the intra-operative phase

Pre-Op Nurse Salary and Schedule Requirements

Tips: Joining a new surgical team can come with a steep learning curve and may be daunting to nursing professionals comfortable in their current role. Show them why transitioning to your facility is worth the time and effort.

Your pre-op nurse job description should list an accurate pay rate and specify whether the position is hourly or salaried. Be sure to mention any opportunities for bonuses or pay raises to keep the interest of applicants who may be considering future career growth opportunities. Outline scheduling expectations, including evening, weekend, and on-call requirements, to prevent any misunderstandings later in the process.

Template:

• Our pre-operative nurse salary starts at $95,000, with adjustments subject to education level and relevant leadership experience
• Overtime, on-call, holiday, and incentive pay available
• 6-week paid orientation period
• 3 scheduled 12-hour day shifts (7a-7p) per week
• Weekend day/night on-call shifts required (2 shifts per month required, with available opportunities for more at the employee’s request)
• Bi-weekly or weekly pay periods

Pre-Op Nurse Qualifications and Skills

Tips: Prospective applicants often have questions regarding the degree, licensure, and certification requirements of the position. Be sure to list all of your facility’s pre-op nurse job qualifications, along with any additional attributes or skills that could be helpful when performing the duties of the role. Specifying which qualifications are required and which are preferred can ensure you don’t inadvertently turn away suitable candidates.

Template:

Required Qualifications:

• Active and unencumbered RN license
• BSN required, MSN preferred
• BLS, ACLS, and PALS certified
• 2 years of experience working in the perioperative setting (pre-operative department, post anesthesia care unit, operating room, interventional radiology, etc.)
• Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) documentation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience at a Level I Trauma Center
• CPAN or CAPA Certification
• Impeccable organization, time management, and critical-thinking skills
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Call to Action

Tips: You’ve spent valuable time crafting a pre-op nurse job description that’s sure to wow prospective applicants. In this final section, it’s time to guide interested candidates to the job application. Including a link titled “Apply Now” or “Click Here to Apply” can encourage them to get started right away.

Template:

Ready to take the next step in your pre-operative nursing career? Click “Apply Now” to start filling out your application today. The entire process takes less than 10 minutes. Thank you for your interest — we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Recruit Great Pre-Op Nurses and Grow Your Surgical Team

Now that you’ve written an enticing pre-op nurse job description, you’re one step closer to finding an exceptional employee. Now, your organization might be looking for an easier way to grow your applicant pool. By posting your open roles to our nursing job board, you can reach over 1 million qualified clinicians who are ready to work.