Job Description 

Clinical Leader – Operating Room, Surgical Services

Position Summary

The Clinical Leader – Operating Room (OR) provides clinical, operational, and leadership support for the Surgical Services Department. Under the direction of the Manager and Director of Surgical Services, the Clinical Leader coordinates daily surgical operations, facilitates patient throughput, ensures safe and efficient patient care, promotes regulatory compliance, and serves as a clinical resource for perioperative staff. The Clinical Leader functions as the shift operational leader, maintaining oversight of staffing, room utilization, patient flow, physician relations, and quality initiatives while fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and clinical excellence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership

• Serves as the clinical resource and operational leader for Operating Room staff.
• Provides leadership and guidance during daily surgical operations.
• Functions as the department's clinical expert for perioperative nursing practice.
• Assists staff with complex surgical procedures and patient care issues.
• Serves as a mentor and coach for nursing and surgical technology staff.
• Promotes evidence-based perioperative practice.
• Supports staff development through coaching and performance feedback.
• Serves as a role model for professionalism, accountability, and patient-centered care.

Daily Operations

Coordinates and oversees daily OR operations including:

• Patient flow
• Room assignments
• Case progression
• Room turnover
• Add-on and emergency cases
• Staffing assignments
• Break and lunch coverage
• Schedule adjustments
• Case prioritization
• Equipment and supply availability

Works collaboratively with surgeons, anesthesia providers, sterile processing, PACU, Endoscopy, Labor & Delivery, and inpatient units to optimize surgical throughput.

Functions as the primary board runner/resource nurse as assigned.

Staffing and Resource Management

• Coordinates staffing assignments based on patient acuity and case complexity.
• Adjusts staffing throughout the day based on workload and patient volume.
• Assists with scheduling call coverage.
• Monitors staffing productivity.
• Identifies staffing needs and communicates concerns to leadership.
• Assists with onboarding and orientation of new employees.
• Supports competency validation and ongoing staff development.

Quality and Patient Safety

Promotes compliance with:

• AORN Guidelines
• Joint Commission standards
• CMS Conditions of Participation
• OSHA regulations
• Infection Prevention standards
• Medication safety practices
• Universal Protocol
• Surgical Time Out
• Instrument counts
• Fire safety
• Surgical smoke evacuation
• Specimen management

Assists with:

• Root Cause Analyses (RCA)
• Event reviews
• Safety investigations
• Corrective action planning
• Performance improvement initiatives

Promotes a culture of safety and high reliability.

Physician Collaboration

Develops collaborative relationships with:

• Surgeons
• Anesthesia providers
• Procedural physicians
• Physician offices
• Medical directors

Addresses operational concerns in real time to improve efficiency and physician satisfaction.

Facilitates communication between physicians and departmental leadership.

Regulatory Readiness

Supports departmental readiness for:

• Joint Commission surveys
• CMS surveys
• State inspections
• Infection Prevention audits
• Internal quality reviews

Assists in maintaining compliance documentation.

Participates in policy review and implementation.

Education and Staff Development

• Assists with orientation of new staff.
• Provides just-in-time education.
• Coaches staff in evidence-based practice.
• Supports annual competencies.
• Identifies educational opportunities.
• Encourages specialty certification.

Performance Improvement

Participates in projects focused on improving:

• First case on-time starts
• Turnover times
• Room utilization
• Block utilization
• Patient satisfaction
• Staff engagement
• Surgical Site Infection prevention
• Documentation compliance
• Regulatory compliance
• Financial stewardship

Uses departmental metrics to identify improvement opportunities.

Equipment and Supply Management

• Assists with equipment troubleshooting.
• Coordinates urgent equipment needs.
• Supports implementation of new technology.
• Assists with product evaluations.
• Collaborates with Sterile Processing regarding instrumentation availability.
• Identifies supply utilization opportunities.

Communication

Maintains effective communication with:

• Surgical Services Director
• Nurse Managers
• Clinical Coordinators
• Charge Nurses
• Physicians
• Anesthesia
• PACU
• Pre-Op
• Sterile Processing
• Infection Prevention
• Quality Department
• Environmental Services

Communicates operational concerns promptly and professionally.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Assists leadership with operational reporting.
• Monitors productivity indicators.
• Documents operational issues.
• Participates in departmental committees.
• Assists with policy implementation.
• Supports strategic departmental initiatives.

Leadership Competencies

Demonstrates competency in:

• Clinical decision-making
• Critical thinking
• Conflict resolution
• Change management
• Coaching and mentoring
• Team building
• Communication
• Accountability
• Customer service
• Physician relations
• Time management
• Operational leadership
• Resource management
• Emotional Intelligence