RN - Operating Room Circulator (Per Diem)
Company : Sonoma Valley Hospital
Location : Sonoma, CA, 95476
Job Type : Per Diem
Date Posted : 1 January 2026
Overview
The Operating Room RN Circulator plans and performs all nursing care for patients who will undergo surgery and other invasive procedures. They provide nursing care from assessment to outcome evaluation. With this role, the RN Circulator is usually the single advocate for patient safety during operative procedures. The RN Circulator assists the team in creating and maintaining a comfortable and safe environment for the patient and observes the team from a wide perspective to provide safety within the period of the operation.
Responsibilities
The circulating nurse is the patients primary advocate while they are undergoing surgery and are unable to speak for themselves. Must use critical thinking, nursing judgement, and integrity to speak up for the patient when needed.
Provides a safe and comfortable environment for surgery. Ensures patient is positioned and secured on the O.R. table in a neutral position advantageous for the surgery ensuring all limbs are in anatomical position, and skin is free of pulling, pinching, or shearing forces.
Prepares O.R. suite for surgery. Ensures all needed surgical and emergency equipment is present and operational before bringing patient into the room. Has all medications prepared and surgical counts performed with the surgical scrubbed person.
Communicates with surgical team, surgeons, anesthesiologist, scrub techs, and coordinators to ensure all surgical needs have been anticipated and met before bringing patient into the operating room.
Conducts safety checks along the surgical continuum to ensure patient's chart is complete and accurate. Checks history and physicals, doctors orders, consents, and preference cards, and charts completely and timely all info in ORM.
Ensures all members participate in surgical TIME OUT before start of procedure to ensure everyone is informed and ready to perform the correct procedure on the correct patient and all important information relative to the patient can be discussed before starting.
Acts as unsterile member of the surgical team. Brings all anticipated needed supplies and equipment into room before case and stocks the cabinets for quick retrieval. Acts as runner to get any need supplies that are not located inside of the surgical room.
Assists anesthesiologist with blocks, arterial lines, hanging blood products, induction, and intubation. Fill supplies in anesthesia carts and turns over anesthesia machine when anesthesia tech is not available.
Dispenses medications to surgical technologist, surgeons, and anesthesiologists in a safe manner, verifies correct dosage, strength, route, and expiration date. Verifies patients allergies and home medications to ensure safety.
Provides conscious sedation for procedures as needed. Screens patients to ensure they are candidates for sedation. Monitors patient's vital signs and response to sedation medications. Monitors for over-sedation and gives reversal medications as needed.
Qualifications
Education: Current RN License; BSN preferredExperience: Minimum 1 year in Operating Room EnvironmentLicenses & Certifications: Current California RN license, ACLS; BLSRequired Skills & Knowledge: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, must have the ability to read and comprehend written instructions to interpret medical orders and medical records. Able to utilize deductive reasoning, common sense and critical thinking to problem solve and demonstrate the ability to make independent, appropriate judgments based upon evidence based practice.
Compensation
Actual compensation takes into account several factors including but not limited to a candidate’s experience, education, skills, licensure and certifications, department equity, training and organizational needs. Eligible roles also qualify for a comprehensive benefits package.Minimum:
USD $68.93Maximum:
USD $94.78Related Jobs
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Frequently asked questions
Sonoma, CA, with its mix of community hospitals and outpatient centers, consistently needs flexible nursing staff like per diem OR circulators. Seasonal surgeries and elective procedures boost demand, making per diem roles attractive for nurses seeking varied schedules and competitive pay in this region.
Given Sonoma's growing healthcare sector and the hospital's reputation, RN circulator openings at Sonoma Valley Hospital attract many skilled candidates. However, the per diem nature offers flexibility that can ease competition, especially for RNs with OR experience and relevant certifications.
Emphasize your California RN license, OR nursing experience, and certifications like ACLS and BLS. Showcasing critical thinking, communication skills, and familiarity with surgical protocols strengthens your profile for this per diem circulator position.
Per diem OR circulators juggle prepping surgical suites, ensuring patient safety, coordinating with surgical teams, and managing supplies. Flexibility is key, as shifts vary with surgical schedules, demanding vigilant multitasking and strong advocacy for patient welfare.
Building expertise in perioperative nursing, earning specialty certifications, or moving into leadership roles like nurse manager operating room can offer growth. Networking within facilities like Sonoma Valley Hospital and gaining diverse OR experience are pivotal steps.
Besides competitive hourly rates up to $94.78, the hospital offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible roles. Per diem nurses benefit from flexible schedules, professional development support, and a collaborative surgical team environment.
Sonoma Valley Hospital encourages ongoing education, providing access to ACLS/BLS renewal courses and perioperative training. Their culture fosters continuous skill enhancement to ensure per diem OR nurses stay current with best practices and safety standards.
The hourly compensation ranges between $68.93 and $94.78, reflecting factors such as experience, certifications, and shift complexity. Sonoma’s cost of living and demand for skilled OR nurses impact competitive pay scales in this market.
This per diem OR circulator position offers a blend of hands-on patient advocacy during surgery and critical team coordination. Its flexibility and strong pay make it a sought-after option among Sonoma's nursing professionals looking for operative specialty roles.
Sonoma Valley Hospital emphasizes patient safety advocacy and comprehensive intraoperative nursing care. Their per diem OR nurse role uniquely blends autonomy in the surgical suite with strong interprofessional collaboration in a community-focused setting.