<p>A Critical Access Hospital in Grants, New Mexico is recruiting an experienced perioperative nurse leader to serve as Director of Surgical Services — a full-scope leadership role with direct oversight of the Operating Room, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, and Sterile Processing Department. This position carries both strategic and operational authority, making it well suited for a seasoned OR leader ready to shape the surgical program at a community hospital that serves as a vital regional resource. The salary range of $133,000–$183,821 reflects the seniority and breadth of responsibility the role demands.</p>
<h3>Perks and Benefits</h3> <ul> <li>Salary range: $133,000–$183,821 annually</li> <li>Full-time, permanent employed leadership position</li> <li>Direct collaboration with the Chief Nursing Officer and executive leadership team, providing a clear pathway for organizational influence</li> </ul>
<h3>Practice Highlights</h3> <ul> <li>Critical Access Hospital designation — a community-anchored facility providing essential surgical and perioperative services to the region</li> <li>Full perioperative service line under one director: Operating Room, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), and Sterile Processing Department</li> <li>Responsibility for surgical scheduling, block time allocation, and OR resource utilization across the entire surgical program</li> <li>Oversight of surgical supply chain, inventory control, and cost management — including capital planning and departmental budgeting</li> <li>Active role in emergency and trauma surgical case readiness, ensuring the department can respond to the full spectrum of community surgical need</li> <li>Leadership of quality improvement, patient safety, infection prevention, and regulatory compliance initiatives</li> <li>Staffing authority spanning recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing staff development for perioperative personnel</li> <li>Key relationship management with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and hospital administration to align surgical services with institutional goals</li> </ul>
<h3>Qualifications</h3> <ul> <li>Current RN license in New Mexico or an active Compact State license</li> <li>BLS and ACLS required; PALS and CNOR preferred</li> <li>Minimum 3–5 years of recent OR experience with hands-on scrubbing and circulating required</li> <li>Prior leadership or management experience in perioperative or surgical services required</li> <li>Demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing standards and surgical supply management</li> </ul>
<h3>About the Community</h3> <p>Grants sits in west-central New Mexico at roughly 6,500 feet elevation, surrounded by high desert mesas, lava fields, and the Cibola National Forest — terrain that draws hikers, mountain bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts year-round. The area offers a low cost of living relative to most of the Southwest, and Albuquerque is approximately 80 miles to the east, providing access to a major airport, university medical center, and full urban amenities while preserving the quieter pace of small-town New Mexico life.</p>