Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Illinois
Registered Nurse Operating Room jobs in Illinois are in strong and consistent demand, concentrated across hospital systems, academic medical centers, and surgical specialty practices, with openings at every level from new graduate perioperative nurses through senior scrub RNs and OR charge nurses. The busiest hiring markets are Chicago, Peoria, and Springfield, where major employers like Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Aurora Health, and OSF HealthCare maintain large surgical programs. The most sought-after specialties in Illinois OR settings include cardiac, orthopedic, and robotic-assisted surgical nursing. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Be a part of a world-class academic healthcare system at UChicago Medicine as an Operating Room Nurse in the Comer Operating Room at our Hyde Park campus. This is a full-time, onsite position.
The Operating Room Nurse provides individualized, goal-directed nursing care based on professional knowledge, clinical judgment, and established standards of practice. The nurse collaborates with physicians and the interdisciplinary team to support safe, high-quality care for patients and families throughout the surgical experience.
Essential Job Functions
- Assess patient needs and provide patient- and family-centered care.
- Plan and implement nursing interventions based on the scheduled procedure, patient assessment, and developmental needs.
- Perform nursing treatments and procedures according to hospital policy and specialty practice standards.
- Prepare and administer medications and treatments safely according to physician orders.
- Evaluate patient responses, adjust nursing interventions as appropriate, and document care accurately.
- Communicate and collaborate with physicians and interdisciplinary team members.
- Provide patient and family education that supports recovery and transitions of care.
- Maintain required unit and hospital competencies and participate in continuing education.
- Follow patient-safety, infection-prevention, and quality standards.
- Participate in unit meetings, quality-improvement activities, and orientation of new staff.
- Assume charge nurse or preceptor responsibilities as assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
- Associate Degree in Nursing.
- Current Illinois Registered Nurse license.
- Current CPR certification.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
- Trauma nursing background.
- One or more years of surgical scrub experience.
Position Details
Job Type/FTE: Full Time, 0.9 FTE
Schedule: 36 hours per week; 12-hour shifts
Shift: Nights, 7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.
Weekend Requirement: Every third weekend
Department: Comer Operating Room
Work Location: Onsite, Hyde Park
Bargaining Unit: NNU
Be a part of a world-class academic healthcare system at UChicago Medicine as an Operating Room Nurse in the Comer Operating Room at our Hyde Park campus. This is a full-time, onsite position.
The Operating Room Nurse provides individualized, goal-directed nursing care based on professional knowledge, clinical judgment, and established standards of practice. The nurse collaborates with physicians and the interdisciplinary team to support safe, high-quality care for patients and families throughout the surgical experience.
Essential Job Functions
- Assess patient needs and provide patient- and family-centered care.
- Plan and implement nursing interventions based on the scheduled procedure, patient assessment, and developmental needs.
- Perform nursing treatments and procedures according to hospital policy and specialty practice standards.
- Prepare and administer medications and treatments safely according to physician orders.
- Evaluate patient responses, adjust nursing interventions as appropriate, and document care accurately.
- Communicate and collaborate with physicians and interdisciplinary team members.
- Provide patient and family education that supports recovery and transitions of care.
- Maintain required unit and hospital competencies and participate in continuing education.
- Follow patient-safety, infection-prevention, and quality standards.
- Participate in unit meetings, quality-improvement activities, and orientation of new staff.
- Assume charge nurse or preceptor responsibilities as assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
- Associate Degree in Nursing.
- Current Illinois Registered Nurse license.
- Current CPR certification.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
- Trauma nursing background.
- One or more years of surgical scrub experience.
Position Details
Job Type/FTE: Full Time, 0.9 FTE
Schedule: 36 hours per week; 12-hour shifts
Shift: Nights, 7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.
Weekend Requirement: Every third weekend
Department: Comer Operating Room
Work Location: Onsite, Hyde Park
Bargaining Unit: NNU
See All 93 Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Illinois
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Find JobsRegistered Nurse Operating Room Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Registered Nurse Operating Room Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- American Traveler21
- SCA Health5
- Endeavor Health5
- UChicago Medicine5
- Northwestern Medicine5
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Technology & Software
- Transportation & Logistics
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in registered nurse operating room jobs across Illinois.
- Active Illinois RN license issued or recognized by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Current BLS certification and ACLS certification required by most Illinois surgical employers
- Minimum one to two years of perioperative or OR nursing experience for most positions
- CNOR certification preferred or required for senior and charge RN roles in Illinois
- Demonstrated scrub and circulating experience across multiple surgical specialties
- Ability to work rotating shifts including weekends and on-call as required by Illinois hospitals
Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a registered nurse operating room in Illinois?
You become a registered nurse operating room in Illinois by first earning an Associate Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing, passing the NCLEX-RN, and obtaining an active RN license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. From there, most Illinois hospitals require completion of a perioperative nursing orientation or new-grad OR residency program before independent practice in the surgical suite.
How much do registered nurse operating rooms make in Illinois?
Registered nurse operating rooms in Illinois earn a median of about $95,990 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $69,170 for the lowest 10% to over $118,190 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire registered nurse operating rooms in Illinois?
Employers hiring registered nurse operating rooms in Illinois right now include American Traveler, SCA Health, and Endeavor Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois's large integrated health systems operate multiple surgical campuses across the state, creating ongoing OR nursing demand well beyond the Chicago metro.
Which Illinois cities have the most registered nurse operating room jobs?
Chicago, Rockford, and Carbondale have the most registered nurse operating room openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates due to its concentration of Level I trauma centers and academic medical systems, while Peoria and Springfield reflect the large regional health systems, including OSF HealthCare and HSHS Medical Group, that anchor surgical services in central and downstate Illinois.
Are there remote registered nurse operating room jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Registered nurse operating room work is hands-on and conducted entirely in a sterile surgical environment, making true remote roles nearly nonexistent. About 0% of registered nurse operating room openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those tend to be perioperative case management or surgical utilization review roles rather than direct OR nursing.
How can I get hired as a registered nurse operating room in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to perioperative new-graduate residency programs, which Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Aurora Health, and OSF HealthCare run on a rolling or cohort basis across Illinois. These programs accept newly licensed RNs with no OR background and provide structured scrub and circulator training. Candidates who hold CNOR candidacy status or have completed a perioperative clinical rotation gain a measurable edge in Illinois hiring.
Where can I find and apply to registered nurse operating room jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to registered nurse operating room jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across hospital systems, surgical centers, and specialty practices. Find the roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly.
See All 93 Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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