Perioperative Nurse Internship

Perioperative nursing is rewarding in that most patients undergo a procedure that prolongs or improves the quality of their lives. Only in perioperative nursing is the nurse able to care for one patient at a time. If you are interested in working in a fast-paced environment where you are continuously learning, becoming a perioperative nurse could be the right career path for you.

Why Choose Us

• Program Outcomes
• St. Luke’s is committed to providing its nurses with the education, experience and support needed to pass the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Perioperative 101: A Core Curriculum -- the gold standard of perioperative guidelines in practice.
• We have created an innovative process to progress learners in our program. St. Luke’s Phase Criteria program guides nurse interns through a 4-step orientation process, assisting in goal creation and progression, maximizing educational outcomes. Each step of the program creates new opportunities and challenges, assisting in the advancement of skills and understanding.
• As an intern, your voice is heard! Bidirectional feedback tools are used to allow both the nurse intern and preceptor to give and receive feedback. Bidirectional feedback enhances skill development and outcomes by creating a supportive environment of open dialogue, self-assessment, and accountability.
• Technology
• The operative setting utilizes a plethora of technologies to drive meaningful and measurable outcomes. Intricate surgical procedures require modern equipment, supplies, and innovation that include robotics, integrated hybrid systems, stealth navigation, and imaging capabilities. Working with experts in their field, St. Luke’s surgical services collaborates with a diverse list of vendor groups to provide state of the art implants systems and surgical supplies.
• Professional Advancement
• What opportunities are available for professional advancement?
  A career in surgical services provides opportunities to those driven to succeed. Participating and leading unit committees, becoming a certified preceptor, specialty lead, educator, charge nurse, clinical coordinator, manager, and possibly a director role.
• Work-Life Balance
• Interns receive dedicated time to complete required assignments while being paid on-the-job
• Predictable Working Hours

Internship FAQs

• The length of the internship program is competency-based and is tailored to each individual adult learner. The education and leadership team works with each intern to determine a personalized plan.
• Education includes a combination of:
• Workshops
• Simulation
• Specialized didactic material
• Supervised hands-on training
• Clinical preceptorship
• We are competing on a national level by offering the evidence-based practice AORN Perioperative 101: A Core Curriculum.
• 38.9 contact hours are earned with the successful completion of the Perioperative 101: A Core Curriculum final examination.
• The team approach cultivates your leadership abilities and prepares you for the multifaceted specialty of perioperative nursing.

Clinical Educators & Leadership

Madeline Konyha, BSN, RN Network Specialty Internship Coordinator

Barbara Puzzella, MSN, RN, CNOR Clinical Perioperative Educator- Bethlehem Campus

Cathy Rehnert, MSN, RN, CNOR Clinical Educator- Allentown Campus

Resources & Support

• At St. Luke’s we follow the evidence-based guidelines of AORN. After the successful completion of the internship, a nurse may sit for the CFPN (Certified Foundational Perioperative Nurse) designation. Once an operative nurse has completed 2 years of full-time experience, they may stack their designation by passing the CNOR certification exam.
• Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (https://aorn.org/)
• CC Institute (https://www.cc-institute.org/)

Application Process

• Complete an application by hitting the Apply Now
• Search for Registered Nurse- Operating Room Internship
• The interview process may include a Panel Interview & Shadow Experience
• If selected, candidates will sign a commitment agreement