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Operating Room Nurse Internship Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Requires one of the following: minimum of six (6) months previous Operating Room (OR) experience, or graduation from an OR post graduate course or approved Operating Room nurse internship program.

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Operating Room Nurse Internship information

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$16

$45

$82

How much do operating room nurse internship jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for operating room nurse internship in the United States is $45.47, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $35.82 and $48.80 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Operating Room Nurse Internship?

An Operating Room Nurse Internship is a specialized training program designed for newly graduated or transitioning nurses to gain hands-on experience in a surgical environment. During the internship, nurses learn essential skills such as sterilization techniques, patient positioning, surgical instrumentation, and how to assist surgeons and anesthesiologists. The program combines classroom learning with supervised clinical practice to prepare nurses for a career in perioperative nursing. Interns work closely with experienced OR nurses and surgical teams to build confidence and competence in the fast-paced operating room setting.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Operating Room Nurse Intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Operating Room Nurse Intern, you need a solid understanding of surgical procedures, aseptic technique, and basic patient care, typically acquired through a nursing degree and active RN licensure or candidacy. Familiarity with surgical instruments, patient monitoring systems, and electronic health records is essential, and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is often required. Attention to detail, teamwork, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for ensuring patient safety and supporting the surgical team. These competencies are vital to maintaining sterile environments, reducing risks during surgeries, and delivering high-quality patient care in a fast-paced setting.

What is the difference between Operating Room Nurse Internship vs Operating Room Nurse?

AspectOperating Room Nurse InternshipOperating Room Nurse
CredentialsTypically enrolled in nursing programs, may have student or trainee statusRegistered Nurse (RN) license required
Work EnvironmentTraining setting, supervised clinical environmentFull professional setting, responsible for patient care
Employer & IndustryHospitals, clinics during training periodHospitals, surgical centers, healthcare facilities
Search & Comparison IntentLearning, training, internship opportunitiesProfessional nursing roles, career advancement

The main difference is that an Operating Room Nurse Internship is a training position for nursing students or trainees gaining hands-on experience, while an Operating Room Nurse is a licensed professional responsible for patient care during surgeries. Internships are temporary and educational, whereas full nurses hold licensure and perform ongoing duties in surgical settings.

What are some common challenges faced by Operating Room Nurse Interns, and how can they be addressed?

Operating Room Nurse Interns often encounter challenges such as adapting to the fast-paced and high-stress environment of the OR, learning to anticipate the needs of surgeons, and mastering strict sterile techniques. To address these, interns benefit from closely observing experienced OR nurses, actively participating in team briefings, and seeking feedback from preceptors. Building strong communication skills and maintaining attention to detail are essential for success. Most programs provide mentorship and structured learning to help interns gradually take on more responsibility with confidence.

What Are Operating Room Nurse Internships?

In an operating room nurse internship, you are a student in a nurse training program operated through your university or a hospital’s nurse training program. In clinical internship positions, you learn the duties, responsibilities, and skills you need to assist during operating room surgeries. Operating room nurse interns learn how to assist surgeons both for emergency and scheduled procedures. Through the program, you learn how to handle and sterilize surgical instruments, set up operating rooms, monitor patient conditions during surgery, and maintain patient records.

What cities are hiring for Operating Room Nurse Internship jobs? Cities with the most Operating Room Nurse Internship job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Operating Room Nurse jobs? The most popular types of Operating Room Nurse jobs are:
What states have the most Operating Room Nurse Internship jobs? States with the most job openings for Operating Room Nurse Internship jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Operating Room Nurse Internship jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Operating Room Nurse Internship jobs are:
Infographic showing various Operating Room Nurse Internship job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $94,573 per year, or $45.5 per hour.
Operating Room Nurse Internship

$32.75 - $44.50/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

The Nurse Residency Program focuses on training licensed Registered Nurses with no prior operating room experience to work in the intra-operative environment. This program is open to nurses who are either new graduates or seasoned nurses with a non-surgical background. This internship prepares nurses with the foundational skills that are essential for providing safe patient care in the operating room.
This program is open to all Nashville area TriStar medical centers including Centennial, Summit, Southern Hills, StoneCrest, Horizon, Skyline, Hendersonville, Greenview and NorthCrest. Residents from all facilities will start the program as a cohort and attend didactic classroom days together. Clinical hours will be completed in the intern’s facility and department of hire. For example, if you are hired to work at Skyline, all your clinical hours will be completed at Skyline. An active nursing license in good standing for the state of your hiring facility (Tennessee or Kentucky) is required to begin the program.

Clinical Expectations
During the 5-month program, interns will work five 8-hour days (Monday – Friday). Alternative shifts will be at the discretion of the hiring manager after completion of the program. Clinical start times may vary depending on the schedule of your preceptor. For example, if your preceptor starts their shift at 0630, you will be expected to start at 0630.

This program helps you develop the foundational skills of the perioperative RN. You will still be a novice when you graduate and will continue to gain specialty experiences following completion of the program. Departmental and service line orientation will build on foundational skills learned in the internship program.

Regular rounding and progress meetings will be set with the course instructors, preceptors, and managers to track the resident’s progress.

Time and Attendance

Attendance and punctuality are required during the didactic portions of the program. Exceptions for clinical will be made on a case-by-case basis. Missing a day of lecture/simulation is not permitted. For clinical days, please refer to your facility’s attendance policy.

Completion Criteria

Nurse Residents must demonstrate successful completion of the following criteria in order to graduate from the internship:

• Completion of all course assignments and objective assessments

• Final grade of 75% or greater

• Professionalism Requirement

· Attend at least one Middle Tennessee Chapter AORN meeting

      Residents that do not meet the above criteria must meet with surgery management, preceptor, and education team to develop an individualized action plan, which may include remediation, reassignment, or resignation from the program.


    Job Summary and Qualifications 

    Position Details: 

    • Self/preferential scheduling posted four weeks in advance for you to have predictability in your schedule 
    • Culture of mutual respect and collaboration among all surgical staff 
    • Continuous investment in equipment including surgical instruments, devices and patient positioning for you to do your best work with patient safety and workflow efficiency in the Operating Room 
    • Rounding with unit leaders, including charge nurses, to ensure your voice is heard on suggestions for patient care and surgical workflow improvement 
    • On-call is required during select non-business hours 

    What you will do in this role: 

    • Evaluate patients prior to surgery 
    • Provide patient and family education surrounding the procedure and peri-operative process
    • Assume responsibility for patient preparation, including intravenous therapy, preoperative medications, and surgical site verification 
    • Participate in surgical site verification, including briefing, time out, debriefing, and universal protocols, according to hospital policy 
    • Recognize and respond to patient emergencies 
    • Deliver high-quality, patient-centered care while managing evidence-based practices and continuous improvement initiatives 
    • Be an integral member of a dynamic interdisciplinary team – consisting of the provider(s), surgeons, surgical technologists and more 
    • Consistently apply the nursing process, critical thinking skills, scientific judgment, technical skills and leadership to independently deliver safe nursing care to patients
    • Assess patient condition, monitor throughout your shift, and document changes in patient condition along with the care provided thoroughly 
    • Educate patients and families/caregivers about the patient’s medical condition, treatment and follow-up measures 
     

    What qualifications you will need: 


    • (RN) Registered Nurse
    • Associate Degree
    • Basic Cardiac Life Support, or BCLS Instructor, or CPR must be obtained within 30 days of employment start date
    Benefits

    TriStar Summit Medical Center, offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life, career and retirement of our colleagues. The available plans and programs include:

    • Comprehensive benefits for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, behavioral health and telemedicine services 
    • Wellbeing support, including free counseling and referral services 
    • Time away from work programs for paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence 
    • Savings and retirement resources, including a 401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, flexible spending accounts, preferred banking partnerships, retirement readiness tools, rollover support and financial wellbeing counseling 
    • Education support through tuition assistance, student loan assistance, certification support, dependent scholarships and a partnership with Galen College of Nursing 
    • Additional benefits for fertility and family building, adoption assistance, life insurance, supplemental health protection plans, auto and home insurance, legal counseling, identity theft protection and consumer discounts 

    Learn more about Employee Benefits 

    Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location. 

    TriStar Summit is a 230+ bed comprehensive facility. We serve Davidson, Wilson and surrounding counties. We include a Level III Trauma Center. We offer a full array of acute care services. These include cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics/spine, rehabilitation and women’s services. We are an Accredited Chest Pain Center with PCI. We are a Primary Stroke Center. TriStar Summit is a leading provider of emergency heart and stroke care.

    "The great hospitals will always put the patient and the patient's family first, and the really great institutions will provide care with warmth, compassion, and dignity for the individual."- Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr. HCA Healthcare Co-Founder 

    Join a family that cares about every stage in your career! We are interviewing candidates for our Operating Room Nurse Internship opening. Apply today and a member of our Talent Acquisition team will reach out. 

    We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.