Start your nursing career in the operating room
The Penn State Health Perioperative Nursing Fellowship prepares newly licensed registered nurses (RNs) for a career in the operating room (OR). You will learn through classroom instruction, skills training and hands-on clinical experience, and guidance from experienced OR nurses at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. No previous OR experience is required.
Eligible hires receive a $10,000 sign-on bonus.
Quick facts:
- Paid, 9-month perioperative fellowship
- No previous operating room experience required
- Adult and pediatric surgical exposure
- Learn to circulate and scrub
- Start dates in January, July and October
Build broad surgical experience
Train at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, an academic medical center and Pennsylvania’s only nationally verified Level 1 Trauma Center for both children and adults.
The fellowship includes experience with adult and pediatric surgery in a large academic surgical environment with:
- Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma services
- 26,000+ annual procedures
- More than 40 operating and procedural rooms
- Robotic surgery and specialized surgical services
"At Hershey, they do everything. Level 1 trauma, specialized neurosurgery, pediatric surgery. You’re going to see so much."
– Patrick Taylor, RN
How you'll learn
The fellowship combines structured classroom instruction with guided hands-on clinical time in the OR to help new graduate nurses build a strong perioperative foundation.
Program structure
- 8-weeks of classroom, skills practice sessions and clinical time
- 32-weeks of service line rotations
- Progressive responsibility throughout training
- One-on-one support from experienced perioperative nurses
Skills you’ll develop
- OR circulator competencies
- Surgical scrub skills
- Sterile technique and infection prevention practices
- Patient positioning and safety procedures
- Surgical case preparation and coordination
- Clinical decision-making in the perioperative setting
- Communication and teamwork within the OR
Build confidence through experience
"Even after you’re done with orientation, you always have a support system."
– Sara Rhoads, RN
Why nurses choose perioperative nursing
Advocate
"We are the patient’s main advocate while they’re asleep."
— Sydney Engle, RN
When patients are under anesthesia, perioperative nurses become their voice, advocate and protector.
Grow
"I was so timid and scared when I started. Now I have the confidence to speak up and stop the line."
— Sara Rhoads, RN
The fellowship helps nurses develop confidence, critical thinking and clinical judgement.
Collaborate
"We're all working for this patient."
— Patrick Taylor, RN
Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia providers and surgical teams in a highly coordinated care environment.
Surgical specialties you’ll experience
Cardiac
Eyes
General surgery
Genitourinary
Gynecology
Interventional pulmonology
Neurology
Orthopedics
Otolaryngology
Pediatrics
Plastics
Robotics
Surgical oncology
Thoracic
Eligibility
Requirements
- Graduation from an accredited nursing program
- Valid Temporary Practice Permit; must pass the National Council Licensure Examination within 6 months of hire
- Interest in pursuing a career in perioperative nursing
No prior operating room experience is required.
Benefits and career support
Competitive salary with regularly scheduled raises
PTO, extended illness bank and personal time
Specialty certification and Clinical Ladder program
75% Tuition assistance at any Penn State campus
$300 annual education fund
Cohorts and how to apply
New cohorts begin three times a year:
January
- Application period: August–October
July
- Application period: January–April
October
- Application period: May–July
Find your place. Find your confidence. Find your purpose.
"One day, you’re just going to know what to do."
– Patrick Taylor, RN
For questions about the Perioperative Nursing Fellowship:
[email protected]