Mercy Medical Center Merced·Merced, California
The Surgical Aide prepares the operating room by setting up equipment and instruments while ensuring a sterile environment. They are responsible for transporting patients, managing surgical supplies, and assisting the surgical team to facilitate efficient procedure turnovers.
Where You’ll Work Founded in 1873, Dignity Health - Mercy Medical Center is a 186-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Merced, California.
Serving over 150,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level II NICU, heart care, the Mercy Cancer Center, and a family birth center.
Additionally, Merced Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center.
One Community.
One Mission.
One California Job Summary and Responsibilities As our Surgical Aide, you will help prepare the operating room and surgical team so they can successfully perform a variety of surgical procedures for patients.Every day you will set up surgical equipment and instruments, assist the surgical team, and ensure a sterile environment.
You will be expected to adapt quickly, collaborate effectively within the OR team, and contribute directly to the patient's healing process.To be successful in this role, you must possess adaptability, a strong team-player mindset, and enthusiasm for supporting complex surgical procedures.
Identifies patient with unit nurse prior to transportation to the Operating Room.
Uses AIDET in communications with patients, families and visitors.
Reports observed behaviors to the Lead RN in SPU, OR or circulating RN Provides for patient comfort and modesty during transportation to the Operating Room.
Complies with Child Security Policies and Procedures.
Prepares and maintains equipment and supplies for the transportation of patients to the operating room.
Prepares and maintains supplies needed for rapid turnover of ORs between cases Informs director or designee when supplies or materials are needed.
Removes broken or malfunctioning instruments or equipment from use notifying the director or designee.
Tags malfunctioning equipment per policy.
Assists with the cleaning of the operating rooms as indicated by need and consistent with departmental guidelines.
Removes all exposed equipment and supplies used and unused.
Disposes of soiled linens, sharps and biohazard waste in accordance with safety standards.
Stores new supplies in proper location, retrieves sterile supplies, linens, dressing, instruments, basins, solutions and special equipment as directed.
Keeps supplies in proper allocated space and off floors.
Consistently keeps the linen stocked in the linen cabinets.
Maintains adequate supply of surgical prep sink and PPE equipment Follows basic principles of aseptic technique and operating room traffic control.
Wears appropriate PPE and ortho garb as required.
Understands and complies with Universal Blood and Body Fluid Precautions while fulfilling responsibilities in the department Communicates effectively with staff, patients and the public using AIDET principles.
May participate in the orientation of new employees.
Participates in unit staff meetings, hospital wide mandatory education programs and special assignments.
Supports all hospital and departmental Quality initiatives.
Transports contaminated and sterile instruments to and from patient care areas safely.
Performs other room duties as assigned Job Requirements Required High School Graduate General Studies, or High School Graduate General Studies Basic Life Support (BLS) - CPR Preferred Experience in surgery in a parallelposition Environmental Services (housekeeping) background Prior experience with Lift or Transport Team Please be advised that this location requires quarterly American Heart Association (AHA) Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) competency certification post-hire.
This ongoing competency is required through resources internal to the facility; outside RQI competency resources are not acceptable for CommonSpirit Health compliance requirements.
Candidates must be high school graduates with Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification. Experience in surgery, environmental services, or patient transport is preferred.
Market context
California nursing roles often draw steady demand, especially for experienced RNs in procedural and critical care settings. Competition is strongest for candidates who already hold a California RN license, current BLS and ACLS, and recent ICU, ER, or PACU experience. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this platform to save research time, then confirm your certifications and highlight relevant bedside and procedural experience in your application.
