RN, New Graduate Pathway into Surgery/Operating Room (Fall/Winter 2026 Graduates)

Location: La Crosse, WI

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Scheduled Weekly Hours

36

Are you an upcoming Fall/Winter 2026 RN graduate and the Operating Room is your long-term goal - let us prepare you for a successful career in that specialty! You are invited and encouraged to apply prior to your graduation.

If you are a Fall/Winter 2026 RN new grad with a desire to become a nurse in the Operating Room, we encourage you to apply to this innovative orientation program to accelerate your progression to our surgery department. These positions will have orientation in specific departments that will assist in preparation for your career in the operating room. Throughout this program you will get an opportunity to work in the Orthopedic Unit, seeing a variety of patient populations and building your foundational nursing skills while having scheduled days of immersion shifts in the operating room typically each month. The immersion shifts will help foster and build rapport with the team while becoming familiar with surgery department policies, procedures, and patient populations. Your professional development nurses will support you along the way and help you grow your professional practice to ensure you have a successful career in your chosen specialty.

The Surgery Department is a fast-paced unit consisting of 19 state-of-the-art operating rooms and 2 labor and delivery suites which provide a wide range of surgical procedures, including robotic-assisted and minimally invasive surgeries. We are a Level 2 Trauma Center with an in-house staff available 24 hours per day year-round. We employ a multidisciplinary team comprised of surgeons, anesthesiologists, residents, physician assistants, CRNAs, AAs, nurses, surgical technologists, surgical assistants, health unit coordinators, CNAs, center core technologists and environmental assistants.

Position Details

Fulltime, 72 hours biweekly (0.9 FTE)

After unit orientation this position can be a 9-hour shift: primarily day shifts (6:15am-3:45pm) with some PM and nights shifts, could be up to 6 off shifts within a 6-week scheduling period. Occasional weekend shifts as needed per unit need (cover PTO, FML, or vacations) or 12-hour shift: primarily day shifts (6:15am-6:45pm) with occasional night or weekend shifts as needed per unit need (cover PTO, FML, or vacations)

Night and Weekend call rotation. Call response time is 60 minutes or less

Holiday Rotation

Schedule on the initial orientation unit will be 0.9 fte, 12 hours shifts, rotating days and nights, every third weekend and holiday

Enjoy an attractive hourly rate of $38.96/hr as well as generous shift/weekend/holiday differentials

What You'll Get

Competitive Starting Pay: $38.96/hr

Unlimited potential at one of the leading health systems in the midwestern United States

A highly adaptable and mission-driven organization with a work environment that supports you personally and professionally and a work culture where you are valued and appreciated

Departmental leadership that supports you as you do your best work including a Clinical Manager, Clinical Supervisor, Professional Development Nurse, and Quality Improvement Specialist Nurse

Have your voice heard through our Nursing Shared Governance Councils

A comprehensive and generous benefits package (Medical, Dental, Life Ins, HSA/FSA) ensuring your comfort and well-being as a valuable team member

Substantial retirement contribution including 401k match & annual discretionary base contribution

Support for your career growth through Professional Development Opportunities, our Tuition Investment Program, and Career Development Center

Other benefits include a Wellness program with incentives, employer-paid life insurance and AD&D, optional short-term and long-term disability coverage, an employee assistance program, identity theft protection, pet insurance, Inspire & Celebrate colleague recognition and rewards program, a discount program, and more!

What You'll Need

Minimum of an Associate degree in Nursing

RN licensure to practice in the state of Wisconsin

Current Infant-Adult Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers

Prior perioperative experience a plus

Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team environment

Emplify Health, a partnership of Bellin Health and Gundersen Health System, is a leading not-for-profit, patient-centered healthcare network based in Green Bay and La Crosse, Wisconsin. With 11 hospitals and over 100 clinics, we serve 67 cities across Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Join us in making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and communities.

If you need assistance with any portion of the application or have questions about the position, please contact [email protected] or call 608-775-0267.

We inspire your best life by relentlessly caring, learning and innovating. This is our purpose. Together with our values — belonging, respect, excellence, accountability, teamwork and humility — our pillars set our foundation and our future.

Equal Opportunity Employer