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OR Nurse - Full Time

ThedaCare · Appleton, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 23, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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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

Tell me about your OR experience, both circulating and scrubbing, and the specialties you know best.

What they are checking: The real depth of their perioperative background so the manager knows where they can work on day one.

Tell me about a time you advocated for a patient who could not speak for themselves under anesthesia.

What they are checking: Whether they see themselves as the patient's voice in the room, which is the heart of circulating.

What is your comfort level with taking call, and how do you stay sharp for an emergency case at night?

What they are checking: Honest readiness for call, which is common in full-time OR roles and tests stamina and judgment.

Tell me about a mistake you made in the OR and what you changed afterward.

What they are checking: Honesty and a learning mindset, which matter in a setting where small errors can cause serious harm.

What would you do

A patient tells you in the holding area that they are not sure they want the surgery anymore. What do you do?

What they are checking: Respect for informed consent and knowing to pause and involve the surgeon rather than reassure the patient forward.

How do you handle an implant that is not in the room when the surgeon needs it?

What they are checking: Problem solving under pressure while still tracking the implant correctly for the patient record and recalls.

Your scrub tech is new and struggling to keep up. How do you support them during the case?

What they are checking: Teamwork and coaching in the moment without letting the case or sterile field suffer.

About the work

Walk me through your pre-op check with a patient before they go back to the room.

What they are checking: Whether they verify consent, site marking, allergies, NPO status and implants rather than trusting the chart alone.

What steps do you take for fire safety in the OR, especially in head and neck cases?

What they are checking: Awareness of the fire triangle and the circulator's role in managing oxygen, prep drying and ignition sources.

How do you keep your documentation accurate in real time during a busy case?

What they are checking: Habit of charting times, counts, positioning and implants as they happen rather than reconstructing later.

How do you manage hypothermia risk for patients during surgery?

What they are checking: Knowledge of warming measures and why temperature affects infection and bleeding outcomes.

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The full job description

As published by ThedaCare.

Why ThedaCare? Living A Life Inspired! Our new vision at ThedaCare is bold, ambitious, and ignited by a shared passion to provide outstanding care. We are inspired to reinvent health care by becoming a proactive partner in health, enriching the lives of all and creating value in everything we do. Each of us are called to take action in delivering higher standards of care, lower costs and a healthier future for our patients, our families, our communities and our world. At ThedaCare, our team members are empowered to be the catalyst of change through our values of compassion, excellence, leadership, innovation, and agility. A career means much more than excellent compensation and benefits. Our team members are supported by continued opportunities for learning and development, accessible and transparent leadership, and a commitment to work/life balance. If you’re interested in joining a health care system that is changing the face of care and well-being in our community, we encourage you to explore a future with ThedaCare. Benefits , with a whole-person approach to wellness – • Lifestyle Engagement • e.g. health coaches, relaxation rooms, health focused apps (Wonder, Ripple), mental health support • Access & Affordability • e.g. minimal or zero copays, team member cost sharing premiums, daycare About ThedaCare! Summary : The RN Clinical Nurse provides patient-centered, specialized, evidence-based nursing care across the continuum through an interprofessional approach to treatment, research, education, and advocacy. Contributes to the goals of the department by being accountable for the delivery of compassionate and safe care within the scope of practice as defined by the Wisconsin Board of Nursing and ThedaCare policy. Through collaborative practice with members of the care team, is responsible for patient outcomes that meet the high quality of care provided by ThedaCare. Furthers the professional practice of nursing at ThedaCare by promoting a culture of innovation and a commitment to growth and professional development. Job Description: SCHEDULE: • Variable 8 hour shifts ranging between a start time of 5am-1p • Call is required 1 night per week and every 4th weekend (Fri-Sun) • Holiday call 1-2 times per year • Call expectation of a 30 minute response time UNIT DETAILS (Operating Room): Perioperative services is a challenging and unique area of medicine and is a little known area of nursing where we have the opportunity to care for patients at their most vulnerable. Surgery is a fast paced, technologically advanced, challenging environment where you will have the opportunity to work side by side with exceptionally skilled and caring professionals including nurses, surgical technologists, surgeons, and anesthesiologists in a team environment to provide exceptional care to all who move through surgery. As an OR nurse, you will advocate for your patient in an environment in a 1:1 nurse to patient ratio while participating in providing life changing care while we improve the health of those we serve. At our Appleton campus you can participate in Robotics, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Cardiovascular, ENT, Plastics, Gynecologic, Vascular, Level III Trauma care, and surgical care for Cancer patients. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES: • Utilizes the nursing process, evidence-based practice, and specific competencies to assess the physical condition and nursing needs of patients, and develops a plan of care in a collaborative practice with the patient and interprofessional team. • Plans for the care needs of the patient in collaboration with the interprofessional team to provide the highest quality of care and clinical outcomes. • Demonstrates clinical expertise in the provision of care in the clinical specialty assigned, and performs all functions of the professional clinical nurse (RN), which are age appropriate, developmentally sensitive, and culturally specific. • Identifies ways to improve the patient’s experience of care, streamline care processes, and lower costs while promoting quality to improve patient, family, and team member satisfaction. • Contributes to a professional environment that encourages mentoring, engagement, and development to retain expert clinicians. • Provides consultation and maintains positive relationships with physicians and other interprofessional team members, collaborating to problem solve and improve patient care. • Demonstrates, anticipates, and proactively manages risk to prevent crises. 8. Performs skillfully in life threatening emergencies, matching demands and resources during crises situations. QUALIFICATIONS: • Current Wisconsin RN Licensure • American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) • Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) required • Bachelor Degree in Nursing (BSN) preferred ThedaCare Regional Medical Center – Appleton & Neenah, Operating Rooms: • American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) within 6 months of hire date • American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) within 6 months of hire date PHYSICAL DEMANDS: • Ability to move freely (standing, stooping, walking, bending, pushing, and pulling) and lift up to a maximum of Fifty (50) pounds without assistance • Job classification is exposed to blood borne pathogens (blood or bodily fluids) while performing job duties • Manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination to perform patient care procedures WORK ENVIRONMENT: • Frequent exposure to sharp objects and instruments • Occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock • Occasional high noise level in work environment • Standing and/or walking for extended periods of time • Transporting, transferring, positioning patients and/or equipment from one location to another; little likelihood for injury if proper body mechanics and procedures are followed • Possible exposure to communicable diseases, hazardous materials, and pharmacological agents • Occasional contact with aggressive and or combative patients. Scheduled Weekly Hours: 32 Scheduled FTE: 0.8 Location: ThedaCare Regional Medical Center - Appleton - Appleton,Wisconsin Overtime Exempt: No Worker Shift Details: Variable

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