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This position has closed. Northwestern Medicine removed this listing from their careers page on Sep 25, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Operating Room Lead RN Neurosurgery Full Time Days

Northwestern Medicine · Palos Heights, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 22, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

How do you run a meeting with specialty service physicians so their needs actually get met?

What they are checking: The posting names scheduled meetings with specialty physicians as their responsibility.

Monday to Friday, quarter to seven until quarter past three, no call and no weekends. What does that schedule mean to you?

What they are checking: The posting advertises it deliberately, and whether that is what they want matters for retention.

Tell me about a time you had to correct an experienced nurse or a technologist.

What they are checking: Whether they will act, since this is a lead role over skilled people.

How do you stay clinically sharp while also running the service?

What they are checking: The posting says direct patient care as needed, and it is easy to drift away from it.

What would you do

How do you improve room turnover without rushing the room?

What they are checking: The posting names monitoring turnover, and speed and safety pull against each other.

A surgeon's schedule changes at short notice. How do you handle it with the team and with them?

What they are checking: The posting names supporting staff and surgeon through schedule changes.

How do you control supply cost without the team feeling squeezed?

What they are checking: The posting names conservation of supplies and care of equipment.

About the work

The posting requires neurosurgery experience. Tell me about the neuro cases you have run.

What they are checking: The posting states this as a requirement, so it is checked first and plainly.

How do you make room assignments that match the skill level of the team you have that day?

What they are checking: The posting names this first, and getting it wrong puts a case at risk.

How do you build and maintain a preference card so it stays accurate?

What they are checking: The posting names developing and maintaining preference cards, which decay quietly.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Northwestern Medicine from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

Due to the advanced skillset and experience required, this role offers a minimum base rate of $46.23/hour, up to $64.89/hour , dependent upon years of experience Neuro experience is required Monday - Friday, no weekends/no holidays/ no call Hours: 6:45AM - 3:15PM Five 8-hour shifts The Lead RN reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (NMHC), adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. Responsibilities: • Makes room assignments appropriate to the skill level of the specialty service team. • Manages, plans, and monitors specialty day-to-day clinical operations. • Develops and maintains preference cards. • Provides direct patient care as needed. • Monitors room turn over. • Collaborates with specialty service team members to ensure that all necessary equipment and supplies are available for their cases. • Identifies and coordinates the needs of specialty service physicians through scheduled meetings. • Supports staff and surgeon when there are schedule changes within the service line. • Supports efforts to control costs through conservation of supplies and care of equipment. • Documents all assessments, interventions and patient responses. • Informs OR Clinical Nurse Manager of specialty services activities and issues • Supports and enforces infection control policies and procedures • Ensures documentation of procedures is complete • Responsible to ensure staff within specialty service adhere to National Patient Safety goal relates to the OR. • Reassesses nursing actions for effectiveness in achieving desired outcomes. • Communicates effectively with the medical staff, nursing staff, and interdepartmental staff. • Collaborates with patient/family and healthcare team members. • Maintains patient confidentiality. • Acts as patient advocate. • Delivers care in a nonjudgmental and non-discriminatory manner that is sensitive to patient diversity. • Delivers care in a manner that preserves/protects patient autonomy, dignity, rights. • Seeks available resources to help formulate ethical decisions. • Works with Perioperative educator to orient new staff to the specialty service. • Contributes to a positive professional work environment by supporting optimal team achievement efforts. • Delegates tasks to others based on their knowledge and skill and the needs of the patient. • Maintains CPR Certification. • Maintains an awareness of unit based performance improvement activities and participates appropriately. Required • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) • Current licensure in the State of Illinois. • Must be competent in basic nursing and computer skills. Preferred • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more. Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.