Operating Room Assistant

Baystate Health•Springfield, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Operating Room Assistant (ORA), under the general supervision of a Registered Nurse, performs direct and indirect patient care activities within established Perioperative Services policies and procedures. The role interacts with patients and their families, nurses, physicians, surgeons, technicians, and other hospital staff. The ORA supports surgical suite turnover, equipment inspection and cleaning, supply stocking, patient transport and positioning, and collection of blood products from Transfusion Medicine Services when directed by the Charge Nurse or RN Circulator. The position has no supervisory duties and reports directly to the Nurse Manager or another designated member of the Perioperative management team. The ORA provides age-appropriate care within defined limits, helps maintain a safe and aseptic environment, prepares operating rooms and equipment for procedures, and supports preoperative and postoperative care under Registered Nurse direction. The role includes responding to routine and emergency needs, maintaining supply levels, communicating with the care team, participating in training and infection-control activities, and completing shift handoff and assigned documentation. The ORA is expected to perform similar tasks and other duties as assigned; management may change or add responsibilities.

Requirements

No prior work experience is required.
Must be capable of following instructions, have good interpersonal skills, and prioritize assigned activities.
Must successfully complete the ORA orientation program.
Must sustain attention to detailed instructions and have good hand-eye coordination and mechanical ability.
Must have intact or corrected vision and hearing.
Must be able to think independently and perform duties during stressful situations in a surgical suite environment.

Nice To Haves

Three to six months of experience in a hospital setting.

Responsibilities

Provide age-appropriate care and apply knowledge of developmental stages when assisting with patient care.
Maintain a safe, aseptic environment; report safety, asepsis, and infection-control concerns to the Charge Nurse or RN Circulator before the end of the shift.
Inspect and clean equipment daily, prepare suite rooms for patients, and remove, label, and report faulty equipment.
Follow Universal Precautions, wear appropriate personal protective equipment, and maintain patient and family confidentiality.
Complete mandatory in-service updates, annual web-based training, assigned competencies, and clinical ladder maintenance; attend at least 50% of OR assistant staff meetings and participate in staff education.
Help maintain established supply PAR levels, communicate supply needs, recommend PAR adjustments, and independently check and replenish supplies and equipment.
Remain in the assigned area 90% of the time to assist with patient transport, provide requested equipment, and support nurses and technicians.
Answer phones and patient call lights as needed; assist Registered Nurses with preoperative admissions and postoperative care and discharge preparation.
Transport patients by wheelchair or stretcher as needed, including to a car for discharge or to an in-house bed.
Assist with hair clipping as assigned, hold limbs for preparation when directed, position patients for surgery, and provide positioning equipment.
Set up operating rooms with required beds, suction canisters, towers, stools, mats, and other equipment, including trauma room setups as needed.
Ensure oxygen tanks are available and secured for transport; exchange empty tanks and secure them for return.
Turn over operating rooms between cases using the standard aseptic process, including waste and linen removal, suction-container replacement, cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, restocking gloves, cleaning beds and floors, and setting up the room for the next case.
Prepare patients for the morgue when assigned and trained, under the direction of the OR Circulator or Charge RN.
Communicate professionally and collaboratively with the care team, patients, and customers, demonstrating trust, integrity, respect, communication, and collaboration.
Initiate emergency procedures under RN direction, including pulling the code light, obtaining the code cart and supplies, and proactively assisting while maintaining patient safety.
Complete the end-of-day OR assistant communication log and applicable trauma room checklist, finish stocking and cleaning tasks, and communicate incomplete work to the oncoming ORA or Charge Nurse.
Mentor and precept new employees and serve as a role model.
Participate in infection-control hand-hygiene audits and report noncompliance to the Manager.
Participate in monthly unit-based education and contribute to learning activities.