Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Kentucky

Registered Nurse Operating Room jobs in Kentucky are concentrated in hospital systems and surgical centers, with consistent demand across acute care, trauma, and outpatient surgery settings at experience levels from new graduate to senior perioperative specialist. Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green account for the largest share of openings, anchored by established systems like Norton Healthcare, UK HealthCare, and Baptist Health. The most in-demand specialties include cardiovascular surgery, orthopedics, and robotics-assisted procedures. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles19
Top employerAmerican Traveler
Top cityLouisville, KY
Cities hiring7
Top industryHealthcare
Companies hiring9

Showing 5 of 19+ Registered Nurse Operating Room jobs

American Traveler
Travel RN - Operating Room - Cardiovascular OR/CVOR
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American Traveler
Added 1d ago
Travel RN - Operating Room - Cardiovascular OR/CVOR
American Traveler
Saint Matthews, Kentucky
Compliance & Risk
Health & Safety
Project Management
BLS Certification
501-1,000

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American Traveler
Travel RN - Operating Room
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American Traveler
Added 4d ago
Travel RN - Operating Room
American Traveler
Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Customer Service
Customer Support
Hospitality & Guest Services
BLS Certification
501-1,000

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American Traveler
Travel RN - Operating Room
We won't show you this job again
American Traveler
Added 4d ago
Travel RN - Operating Room
American Traveler
Saint Matthews, Kentucky
Customer Service
Customer Support
Hospitality & Guest Services
BLS Certification
501-1,000

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Surgery Ventures
Operating Room Registered Nurse
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Surgery Ventures
Added 5d ago
Operating Room Registered Nurse
Surgery Ventures
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
Patient Services & Wellbeing
10,000+

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American Traveler
Travel RN - Operating Room
We won't show you this job again
American Traveler
Added 5d ago
Travel RN - Operating Room
American Traveler
Louisville, Kentucky
Customer Service
Customer Support
Hospitality & Guest Services
BLS Certification
501-1,000

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See All 19 Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Kentucky

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Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs by City in Kentucky

Where Kentucky roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Louisville
7 jobs
Paducah
3 jobs
Lexington
3 jobs
Bowling Green
2 jobs
Saint Matthews
2 jobs
Frankfort
1 job
Elizabethtown
1 job

Registered Nurse Operating Room Job Market in Kentucky

A snapshot from current Kentucky openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

American Traveler
American Traveler6 open roles
SCA Health
SCA Health3 open roles
Norton Healthcare
Norton Healthcare3 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services

What Kentucky Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in registered nurse operating room jobs across Kentucky.

  • Active Registered Nurse license issued or recognized by the Kentucky Board of Nursing
  • Current BLS certification and ACLS certification required by most perioperative employers
  • Minimum one to two years of operating room or perioperative nursing experience preferred
  • CNOR certification strongly preferred or required for senior and specialty OR positions
  • Demonstrated scrubbing and circulating skills across general and specialty surgical procedures
  • Ability to meet hospital credentialing requirements and complete facility-specific OR competencies

Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a registered nurse operating room in Kentucky?

You become an operating room nurse in Kentucky by first earning an Associate Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing, passing the NCLEX-RN, and obtaining licensure through the Kentucky Board of Nursing. Kentucky participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so nurses licensed in other compact states may practice without a separate Kentucky license. After licensure, most nurses enter the OR through a perioperative internship or new-grad residency offered by large hospital systems before pursuing CNOR certification.

How much do registered nurse operating rooms make in Kentucky?

Registered nurse operating rooms in Kentucky earn a median of about $81,040 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $64,170 for the lowest 10% to over $111,750 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire registered nurse operating rooms in Kentucky?

Employers hiring registered nurse operating rooms in Kentucky right now include American Traveler, SCA Health, and Norton Healthcare, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Large integrated health systems and freestanding surgical centers across Louisville and Lexington account for the greatest volume of ongoing perioperative openings statewide.

Which Kentucky cities have the most registered nurse operating room jobs?

The cities with the most registered nurse operating room openings in Kentucky are Louisville, Paducah, and Lexington. Louisville leads because of its dense concentration of major health systems and Level I trauma centers, while Lexington's openings are driven by UK HealthCare and its affiliated surgical facilities, and smaller markets like Bowling Green reflect the growth of regional hospital campuses serving south-central Kentucky.

How can I get hired as a registered nurse operating room in Kentucky with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying directly to perioperative internship or new-graduate residency programs run by large Kentucky systems such as Norton Healthcare and UK HealthCare, which are designed specifically for RNs without prior OR experience. Nurses transitioning from ICU, emergency, or surgical floor roles have a strong advantage because patient assessment and sterile technique skills transfer directly. Completing your CNOR eligibility hours and obtaining ACLS certification before applying signals commitment and gives your application an edge with Kentucky perioperative hiring managers.

Where can I find and apply to registered nurse operating room jobs in Kentucky?

You can find and apply to registered nurse operating room jobs in Kentucky on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to Kentucky employers and surgical facilities. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, specialty, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 19 Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Kentucky

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