Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Wisconsin
Registered Nurse Operating Room jobs in Wisconsin are concentrated in Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, where health systems like Froedtert Health, UW Health, and Ascension Wisconsin maintain large surgical programs and hire consistently across experience levels from new perioperative nurses to seasoned scrub-certified veterans. Demand is strongest in cardiac, orthopedic, and robotic-assisted surgery suites, with trauma centers and ambulatory surgical centers adding to the volume. Wisconsin's growing regional medical campuses have made this one of the more active OR nursing markets in the Midwest. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 48+ Registered Nurse Operating Room jobs
- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Facility: St. Joseph Hospital
- Specialty: Surgery Recovery
- Schedule: Day-shift, .9
- Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
- Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
- Time to recharge: paid time off (PTO) and holidays
- Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning
- Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources
- Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more
- Performs scrub functions including the selection and handling of instruments and supplies used during procedure.
- Performs circulating functions including monitoring, recording and communicating patient condition and managing overall nursing care of patient before, during and after procedure.
- Directly assists operating physician with surgical tasks including hemostasis, suturing and wound exposure as well as patient positioning.
- Prepares operating rooms and surgical instruments and equipment for use.
-
Required Credential(s):
- Advanced Life Support obtained within 6 Months (180 days) of hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
- BLS Provider obtained within 1 Month (30 days) of hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
- Registered Nurse credentialed from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date. Licensure from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing OR current home state license if considered multi-state/Compact State.
- Diploma from an accredited school/college of nursing required. OR Required professional licensure at time of hire.
Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
Equal employment opportunity employer
Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.
Fraud prevention notice
Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process, our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.
E-Verify statement
Employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click here for more information.
- Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Facility: St. Joseph Hospital
- Specialty: Surgery Recovery
- Schedule: Day-shift, .9
- Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
- Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
- Time to recharge: paid time off (PTO) and holidays
- Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning
- Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources
- Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more
- Performs scrub functions including the selection and handling of instruments and supplies used during procedure.
- Performs circulating functions including monitoring, recording and communicating patient condition and managing overall nursing care of patient before, during and after procedure.
- Directly assists operating physician with surgical tasks including hemostasis, suturing and wound exposure as well as patient positioning.
- Prepares operating rooms and surgical instruments and equipment for use.
-
Required Credential(s):
- Advanced Life Support obtained within 6 Months (180 days) of hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
- BLS Provider obtained within 1 Month (30 days) of hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
- Registered Nurse credentialed from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date. Licensure from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing OR current home state license if considered multi-state/Compact State.
- Diploma from an accredited school/college of nursing required. OR Required professional licensure at time of hire.
Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
Equal employment opportunity employer
Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.
Fraud prevention notice
Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process, our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.
E-Verify statement
Employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click here for more information.
See All 48 Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Wisconsin
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Find JobsRegistered Nurse Operating Room Jobs by City in Wisconsin
Where Wisconsin roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Registered Nurse Operating Room Job Market in Wisconsin
A snapshot from current Wisconsin openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- American Traveler10
- Ascension6
- Mercyhealth5
- Voyage Health4V
- Advocate Aurora Health4
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Wisconsin Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in registered nurse operating room jobs across Wisconsin.
- Active Wisconsin registered nurse license issued or recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
- Current BLS certification required with ACLS preferred by most hospital employers
- Minimum one to two years of perioperative or scrub experience for most positions
- Completion of an accredited associate or bachelor of science in nursing program
- CNOR certification strongly preferred and often required for senior operating room roles
- Demonstrated competency in sterile technique, surgical instrumentation, and circulating responsibilities
Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a registered nurse operating room in Wisconsin?
You become an operating room registered nurse in Wisconsin by earning an associate or bachelor of science in nursing, passing the NCLEX-RN, and obtaining an active registered nurse license through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. From there, most nurses enter the OR through a perioperative internship or new-grad residency program, gaining hands-on circulating and scrub experience before pursuing the CNOR certification offered by the Competency and Credentialing Institute.
How much do registered nurse operating rooms make in Wisconsin?
Registered nurse operating rooms in Wisconsin earn a median of about $95,530 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,470 for the lowest 10% to over $119,860 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire registered nurse operating rooms in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin registered nurse operating room roles are posted by American Traveler, Ascension, and Mercyhealth and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Wisconsin's large integrated health systems drive the bulk of OR nursing hiring, with academic medical centers and specialty surgical hospitals adding consistent volume throughout the year.
Which Wisconsin cities have the most registered nurse operating room jobs?
Milwaukee, Madison, and Janesville have the most registered nurse operating room openings in Wisconsin. Milwaukee anchors the market through its concentration of major health systems and Level I trauma centers, Madison draws volume from UW Health's academic surgical programs, and Green Bay's regional hospital campuses serve a broad northeast Wisconsin patient base that keeps OR staffing needs consistently high.
Are there remote registered nurse operating room jobs in Wisconsin?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of registered nurse operating room openings tied to Wisconsin are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the fundamentally hands-on nature of surgical nursing. The portions of the role that can shift off-site are limited to perioperative care coordination, surgical scheduling, and clinical education or training roles within larger health systems.
How can I get hired as a registered nurse operating room in Wisconsin with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a perioperative nurse internship or new-graduate OR residency, which Froedtert Health and UW Health both run for nurses without direct surgical experience. Nurses transitioning from med-surg, procedural, or PACU roles find the move to the OR more accessible than entering from outside the hospital entirely. Holding an active Wisconsin RN license, completing a perioperative nursing course through AORN, and demonstrating sterile field competency in clinical rotations all give candidates a meaningful edge in Wisconsin hiring.
Where can I find and apply to registered nurse operating room jobs in Wisconsin?
You can find and apply to registered nurse operating room jobs in Wisconsin on Migrate Mate, which lists current Wisconsin openings updated in real time. Search the roles available, identify the ones that match your experience and preferred location, and apply directly through each listing without needing to create a profile or sign up first.
See All 48 Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Wisconsin
Find roles in Wisconsin that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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