Operating Room Aide

POSITION SUMMARY

Performs routine duties in the Operating Room area which assist the nursing staff in caring for patients. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education:

1. High School graduate or equivalent.

Experience:

1. Nursing assistant experience preferred.
2. Operating room experience preferred.  

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

1. Ability to follow instructions and perform routine tasks carefully and properly.
2. Address patient with appropriate title or agreed to by patient.
3. Listens and appropriately responds to patient/significant other, staff, and physician concerns.  Communicates nonverbally a calm, caring attitude.
4. Communicates appropriately pertinent information concerning the patient, equipment, instruments and supplies.

License/Certification/Registration:

1. Meets the American Heart Association’s standards for Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) and renews BLS every two years.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Receives general supervision from the Director, Unit Manager and Clinical Supervisor. The amount of supervision required is directly proportionate to the complexity of the task being performed.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

None

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Transports Central Sterile carts to and from OR during scheduled hours.
2. Unloads Central Sterile carts and place items in proper storage area.  Inspects integrity of sterile packaging.
3. Cleans and cares for instruments according to procedure as directed.
4. Assembles trays as directed.
5. Reports damaged instruments to appropriate director/manager.
6. Wraps and labels instruments or supplies as directed.
7. Assists with keeping work room in order.
8. Cleans storage shelves and initial appropriately.
9. Cleans unicells and specialty carts and initial appropriately.
10. Cleans special equipment as directed, e.g., sterilizes, microscopes, smoke evacuator, etc.
11. Monitors expiration dates on sterile supplies.
12. Defrosts and cleans refrigerators.
13. Transports specimens to laboratory.
14. Assists with cleaning of the operating room area as directed.
15. Assists with moving patients to and from the OR bed as needed.
16. Assists anesthesia and/or OR staff in transporting patients as directed.
17. Stamps charts for patients prior to day of surgery or as needed.  Maintains supply of operating room patient charts.
18. Makes copies of operating room schedules and surgical schedules and distribute according to procedure.
19. Stocks utility rooms and storage areas as directed.
20. Runs errands as directed.
21. Maintains a safe environment.
    1. Demonstrates knowledge for the care and handling of instrumentation and equipment.
    2. Reports faulty equipment immediately to appropriate personnel.
    3. Uses proper body mechanics for all activities.
    4. Follows established safety standards.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Performs related and miscellaneous duties as assigned.