Operating Room Assistant - Operating Room Shift varies - 24hrs/wk

University of Michigan Health-West•Wyoming, MI

18d

About The Position

The Operating Room Assistant supports the surgical team and patient care in the operating room. The role includes transporting patients, equipment, instruments, and specimens; cleaning and turning over rooms; restocking supplies; assisting with equipment; and helping maintain the flow of patient care. The position works 24 hours per week, with varying shifts and rotating weekend on-call duty. The assistant helps maintain equipment and environmental standards, follows aseptic technique and universal precautions, and participates in sterilization and testing procedures. The role also involves communicating with patients, their significant others, healthcare team members, and ancillary departments in accordance with hospital values, policies, and confidentiality standards. The assistant is expected to contribute to team effectiveness, safety, continuing education, and ongoing improvement.

Requirements

High school graduate or GED.
Knowledge of sterile technique.
Functional knowledge of surgery case set-ups.
Knowledge of medical terminology.
Motivated and self-directed, with willingness to take responsibility for actions.
Ability to multitask and plan for the needs of all rooms.
Physical and emotional attributes to meet the requirements of the position.
Good communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

Work cooperatively with team members to clean and turn over operating rooms, entering shortly before the patient exits and cleaning as needed.
Perform other cleaning duties assigned by the department.
Clean surgical equipment not handled by environmental services, such as anesthesia machines and monitors.
Restock supplies as assigned by the department and not handled by materials management.
Perform department transportation duties, including moving equipment, instruments, and patients between or within departments.
Pick up and return equipment and instruments as needed.
Provide basic patient care, including holding extremities for preparation and assisting with patient positioning.
Check and log humidity levels and temperatures, including solution warmer temperatures.
Conduct biological testing on autoclaves, Steris testing, and refrigerator temperature testing according to policy.
Demonstrate aseptic technique and open sterile supplies for procedures.
Participate in operating autoclaves and the cold sterilization unit.
Transport specimens to pathology as requested, using universal precautions.
Communicate appropriately with patients, significant others, healthcare team members, and ancillary departments while following confidentiality standards and hospital policies.
Respond flexibly to department and hospital needs and use time effectively.
Support continuous improvement principles by working effectively as a team member, focusing on customer expectations, and seeking to improve systems and personal competency.
Continue developing job expertise and participate in continuing education and in-service programs related to assigned skills and team effectiveness.
Maintain knowledge of and demonstrate required safety policies, procedures, and hospital safety rules; document required annual safety education.
Perform other related duties that contribute to the hospital’s values and mission.
Work rotating weekend on-call duty.