Registered Nurse - New to the OR Program (Feb 2026 Cohort)

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

 

Duke Health is now accepting RN (experienced and new graduates) applications to the New to the Operating Room Program for the February 2026 Cohort!

 

The New to the OR Training Program is available to new graduate and skilled nurses without OR experience who want to gain operating room experience. The program involves six to nine months of training depending on the service line and/or location with an initial schedule of 5-8’s shift’s Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm.  After the initial weeks, schedules will vary upon the management team’s discretion based on the needs of the unit, preceptor schedules, and progress of the individual nurse.  After orientation, the entity or service line unit schedule will apply.

 

Required Start Date: February 23, 2026  (RN license required before this date)

 

Application and Video Interview: Apply online and upload your resume. Then, submit your video interview by clicking the following link: New to the OR - Video Interview

 

​Virtual interviews for the New to the OR Program will be held on November 5, 2025 from 3:30pm to 7:00pm EST (By invitation only following a phone screen.)

 

Position Locations: Duke University Hospital, Duke Raleigh Campus and Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center

 

• Duke University Hospital - Consistently rated as one of the best in the United States and known around the world for its outstanding care and groundbreaking research, Duke University Hospital (Level 1 Trauma Center) located in Durham, NC, operates 24-hours, 7 days a week. There are 52 operating rooms and specialties include General, Cardiac, Pediatrics, ENT, Ortho, Plastics, Urology, Neuro, GYN, CTOR and Duke Eye Center. RNs scrub and circulate in our specialty service lines.

 

• Duke Raleigh, A Campus of Duke University Hospital - Duke Raleigh Campus is a medium sized Duke Health hospital located just north of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. There are 19 operating rooms and specialties include Ortho, Spine, General, GYN, Neuro, Vascular, and ENT. The patient population consists mostly of adults with some pediatric patients. RNs circulate in all surgical specialties in a community hospital environment with the resources and opportunities of the greater Duke Health system.

 

• Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center - Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center, located in Durham, NC, provide care for patients needing same-day diagnostic and treatment-based surgical procedures. Specialty areas include General Surgery, Ortho, Neuro, GYN, Urology and Pediatrics. RNs scrub and circulate in multiple ambulatory surgeries in a fast-paced weekday shift. 

Job Summary:  

As a Clinical Nurse with Duke University Health System, you will make providing service your priority while caring for the whole person in a patient-centered atmosphere. The Clinical Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing and supervising direct and indirect total nursing care responsibilities. Utilizing the nursing process (assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating) in achieving the goals of the nursing department. Plan and provide advanced and/or specialized nursing care for patients in guided by DUHS Professional Practice model participate in the clinical ladder program, educational activities, departmental committees, research projects or other health related projects as assigned. Provide nursing services to patients and families in accordance with the scope of the RN as defined by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. Adheres to all rules and regulations of all applicable local, state and federal agencies and accrediting bodies. Actively participates in outstanding customer service and accepts responsibility in maintaining relationships that are equally respectful to all.
 
Knowledge, Skills, Education, and Experience required:

• No previous work experience is required.
• Experienced RNs without operating room experience and new graduate nurses are welcomed to apply.
• Graduation from an accredited Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (or h