The shift for this role is Monday-Friday, 7
00am-3:00pm. Weekends, holidays and call as needed
Under the supervision of the Charge Nurse / Clinical Coordinator and professional nursing staff, the Operating Room Assistant (ORA) performs a variety of activities that provides support for the nursing staff within Surgical Services.
Major accountabilities/Critical responsibilities
- Respects and protects the patient’s rights to confidentiality and privacy and discloses information only for professional purposes which are in the patient’s best interests with full consideration of their legal rights.
- Maintains knowledge of surgical instrumentation, equipment and supplies necessary for procedures in order to assist the surgical team as needed.
- Provides safe patient care by verifying patient identification and assuring the presence of the necessary patient chart as needed.
- Comply with established personal protective equipment requirements necessary for protection against
- exposure to blood and other potentially infectious body fluids, chemical disinfectants and other hazardous materials.
- Assist in transporting and positioning of patients.
- Assist the scrub and circulating nurses in implementing individualized nursing care plans to
- accommodate expected changes, which can occur during the surgical procedure by seeking
- information and relaying it appropriately.
- Performs a wide variety of housekeeping duties, to include but not limited to:
- Cleans and disinfects operating rooms between surgical procedures to assist with an efficient room turnover, while maintaining quality.
- Maintains cleanliness and organization of equipment rooms.
- Stocks and cleans scrub sink areas and center core.
- Cleans and disinfects all equipment in the operating rooms, safely removes and replaces sharps containers, as necessary.
- Maintain cleanliness in locker rooms and lounge.
- Assists with setting up rooms with appropriate equipment.
- Safely transports and maintains equipment and reports problems which may require biomedical services.
- Transport specimens as directed.
- Stocks supplies in operating rooms.
- Participates in case cart preparation as directed.
- Acts as resource person for other employees and units as required.
- Demonstrates ability to perform duties with minimal supervision.
- Performs other duties as assigned in accordance with the established standard of care.
- Assists in maintaining a safe environment.
- Assists in the general orientation of new employees by providing direct teaching and supervision in
- learning proper care of equipment and the disinfection of the operating room.
- Complies with hospital attendance policy and department staffing policy and rotations.
- Adheres to hospital and department specific dress code policy.
- Complies with hospital and departmental policies and procedures and adheres to external agency
- requirements.
- Completes required continuous training and education, including department specific requirements.
- Takes responsibility for own professional development.
- Communicates and collaborates effectively with all members of the health care team and related
- departments to provide accurate information about the perioperative care of the patients.
- Displays a positive attitude and works to achieve an environment of respect, accountability, teamwork,
- integrity, and compassion. Does not support or take part in disruptive or negative behavior.
- Formulates and maintains effective working relationships with peer, managers and the surgical team
- members.
- Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and procedures and standards of care, which contribute to the achievement of the organization’s strategic plan.
Qualifications/Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- Medical Terminology, computer literacy, knowledge of medical equipment and previous related experience preferred.
- Ability to communicate effectively with surgical staff, physicians and other health care workers. Able to read, write and speak English.
