Veterinary Operating Room Assistant, GCVS

Ethos Veterinary Health•Houston, TX

5d•$16 - $8•Onsite

About The Position

Veterinary Operating Room Assistant, GCVS Are you eager to make a meaningful impact in veterinary care? Do you excel in dynamic, fast-paced settings where every day brings something new? If you're a highly organized, compassionate, and energetic team player with strong collaboration skills, Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists (GCVS) is looking for you to join our team as a Veterinary Operating Room Assistant. Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists (GCVS) is a leader in specialized care for companion animals, known for excellence and collaboration with the veterinary community. Our state-of-the-art facility and expert team provide top-tier care across a range of specialties, including emergency, cardiology, oncology, neurology, surgery, and more. Join us and make a difference in the lives of pets and their families every day. Position Overview: Operating Room assistants (ORAs) are individuals with a minimum of 2-year experience in general or specialty veterinary service. An ORA plays a critical and multifaceted role in the surgery department by supporting the veterinary surgeons and the entire medical team to ensure the highest quality of patient care. This role requires technical expertise, attention to detail, and a compassionate approach to both animal patients - with a focus on general preliminary exams, surgical procedure preparation, performing assistant scrub duties, circulation and post-operative recovery.

Requirements

Minimum of 2-year experience in general or specialty veterinary service.
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Previous experience in a surgical or specialty veterinary setting is preferred.
Must possess excellent listening and interpersonal skills and problem-solving methods.
Exceptional attention to detail.
Ability to follow highly specific, multi-step standard operating procedures (SOPs) and pullbook guidelines.
Ability to work efficiently and calmly in a fast-paced, high-stress environment.
Strong communication and teamwork skills.
Physical ability to lift and restrain animals of varying sizes (up to 50 lbs. unassisted).
Compassion for animals and empathy for patients undergoing surgical procedures.
Commitment to continued learning and professional development.
Fluent English skills (speaking & reading) are required for the role; fluency in multiple languages a plus!

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in a surgical or specialty veterinary setting is preferred.
Fluency in multiple languages a plus!

Responsibilities

Execute strict decontamination and disinfection protocols immediately following procedure completion to ensure the suite is ready for the next case.
Transporting used instrumentation to the sterilization team, moving soiled laundry to the laundry station, emptying trash cans, and replacing liners.
Emptying and cleaning suction bottles, and restocking/putting away unopened surgical supplies and instruments.
Clean, wipe, and disinfect all vertical and horizontal surfaces within the OR suite, including surgery and Mayo tables, equipment bases, anesthesia machines, chairs, walls, and suspended surgical lights.
Maintain the surgery preparation room, sterile hallways, and scrub sink areas to the same high aseptic standards.
Sweep and damp-mop sterile hallways, prep room flooring, and surgical suites using designated veterinary-grade disinfectant solutions.
Frequently remove all regular trash, biohazard waste, and recycling from the surgical suites to the external dumpster throughout the day to maintain a clean, safe environment.
Assist with the continuous cycling, washing, drying, folding, and stocking of surgical towels, patient warming blankets, and microfiber towels.
Properly connect gas supply lines and waste-gas scavenging systems.
Monitor and refill anesthetic gas vaporizers to ensure sufficient volumes for daily caseloads.
Select and apply the appropriate-sized breathing circuits and rebreathing bags based on specific patient parameters provided by the surgical team.
Perform successful pressure checks on anesthesia machines prior to use, and independently troubleshoot for system leaks.
Monitor and replace CO2 absorbent (Sodasorb) canister contents on a regular, scheduled basis.
Deploy, inspect, and organize anesthesia monitoring accessories for upcoming cases, including pulse oximeter probes, ECG leads, temperature probes, capnography lines, and non-invasive blood pressure cuffs/arterial line poles.
Position, organize, and ergonomics-adjust surgical tables, Mayo stands, instrument tables, and equipment towers according to the specific procedure type.
Power on and configure large surgical equipment to proper baseline parameters, including arthroscopy and laparoscopy towers, electrosurgical (cautery/LigaSure) units, orthopedic drill consoles, and fluoroscopy (Mini C-arm) imaging units.
Accurately pull specific surgical instrumentation, packs, and specialized implants for advanced surgical procedures utilizing the department’s pullbook guidelines.
Actively monitor and utilize the electronic surgery whiteboard to track case locations, transitions, and timing.
Proactively assist in coordinating OR room assignments to minimize downtime between procedures.
Wash, clean, and wrap surgical instruments and equipment, ensuring strict adherence to aseptic protocols.
Safely and correctly operate sterilization equipment to run complete steam sterilization cycles (including flash cycles) when immediate instrument turnover is required.
Actively build and maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of specialized surgical instrumentation, including orthopedic, soft tissue, laparoscopic, thoracoscopic, and arthroscopic equipment.
Prepare and set up empty patient kennels, ensuring recovery spaces are clean, dry, and stocked with clean bedding.
Pre-stage environmental supports such as passive heat sources or fluid pump poles as directed by clinical staff.
Prepare the radiology suite for pre- or post-operative imaging. This includes checking and setting up the designated radiology anesthesia machine and pulling.