Veterinary Operating Room Assistant - Surgery

Veterinary Operating Room Assistant, Surgery
Starting at $16/hr. | +$2/hr. Partial Night/ $3/hr. Weekend Differentials
Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists| Houston, TX

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 Beginner 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.

Compensation:

• Starting at $16/hr., based on experience
• +$2/hr. Partial Night Differential (after 7pm)
• +$3/hr. Weekend Differentials

Full-Time Benefits Include:

• 401(k) with matching
• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) / Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Life and Disability insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program and Discounts (including Pet Discount)
• Professional development and tuition assistance
• Uniform stipend
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• Full-Time
  • Monday - Friday
  • 10:00am – 7:00pm
• Rotating Saturdays required

Job Description:
Surgery assistants are under the direct guidance and supervision of the Surgery Technical Staff Supervisors, surgeons and managers. Occupants of this position are required to provide essential logistical and technical support to the surgical team, ensuring a sterile, high-functioning environment. Key responsibilities include executing strict room-turnover and decontamination protocols, configuring and pressure-testing anesthesia machines, and calibrating advanced surgical equipment towers. This role optimizes daily workflow by managing the surgery whiteboard, pulling specialized instrumentation, operating autoclaves, and maintaining ancillary areas like the prep room and recovery kennels. This position requires exceptional attention to detail, a strong grasp of aseptic protocols, and a proactive approach to minimizing downtime between procedures. Note: this is a non-patient contact role.

Responsibilities:
1. Standard Decontamination & Environmental Safety

• OR Suite Turnover: Execute strict decontamination and disinfection protocols immediately following procedure completion to ensure the suite is ready for the next case. ○ Includes: Transporting used instrumentation to the sterilization team, moving soiled laundry to the laundry station, emptying trash cans, and replacing liners.
  • Includes: Transporting used instrumentation to the sterilization team, moving soiled laundry to the laundry station, emptying trash cans, and replacing liners.
  • Includes: Emptying and cleaning suction bottles, and restocking/putting away unopened surgical supplies and instruments.
• Deep Cleaning: 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.
• Ancillary Area Maintenance: Maintain the surgery preparation room, sterile hallways, and scrub sink areas to the same high aseptic standards.
• Floor Care: Sweep and damp-mop sterile hallways, prep room flooring, and surgical suites using designated veterinary-grade disinfectant solutions.
• Waste Management: 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.
• Laundry Operations: Assist with the continuous cycling, washing, drying, folding, and stocking of surgical towels, patient warming blankets, and microfiber towels.

2. Anesthesia Machine & Monitor Maintenance

• Anesthesia Machine Setup: Properly connect gas supply lines and waste-gas scavenging systems.
• Vaporizer Oversight: Monitor and refill anesthetic gas vaporizers to ensure sufficient volumes for daily caseloads.
• Circuit Configuration: Select and apply the appropriate-sized breathing circuits and rebreathing bags based on specific patient parameters provided by the surgical team.
• Pressure Testing & Troubleshooting: Perform successful pressure checks on anesthesia machines prior to use, and independently troubleshoot for system leaks.
• Sodasorb Maintenance: Monitor and replace CO2 absorbent (Sodasorb) canister contents on a regular, scheduled basis.
• Surgical Monitor Prep: 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.

3. Specialized Equipment & Tower Calibration

• Room Orientation: Position, organize, and ergonomics-adjust surgical tables, Mayo stands, instrument tables, and equipment towers according to the specific procedure type.
• Equipment Calibration: 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.

4. Instrumentation & Workflow Logistics

• Surgical Instrument Pulling: Accurately pull specific surgical instrumentation, packs, and specialized implants for advanced surgical procedures utilizing the department’s pullbook guidelines.
• Whiteboard & Workflow Management: 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.
• Instrument Processing Support: Wash, clean, and wrap surgical instruments and equipment, ensuring strict adherence to aseptic protocols.
• Autoclave Operation: Safely and correctly operate sterilization equipment to run complete steam sterilization cycles (including flash cycles) when immediate instrument turnover is required.
• Instrumentation Knowledge Base: Actively build and maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of specialized surgical instrumentation, including orthopedic, soft tissue, laparoscopic, thoracoscopic, and arthroscopic equipment.

5. Ancillary Support (Non-Patient Contact)

• Recovery Area Preparation: 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.
• Radiology Suite Preparation: Prepare the radiology suite for pre- or post-operative imaging. This includes checking and setting up the designated radiology anesthesia machine and pulling up the appropriate patient computer requests on the imaging software.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience: No experience needed. Previous experience in a veterinary hospital, human hospital, or medical sterilization environment is highly preferred but not required.
• Knowledge of basic medical/surgical terminology is a plus.
• Fluent English skills (speaking & reading) are required for the role; fluency in multiple languages a plus!

• Make a meaningful impact by being an advocate for pets and their families.
• Work alongside a compassionate and talented team dedicated to excellence in veterinary care.
• Enjoy a dynamic, fast-paced environment that keeps you engaged and challenged.
• Be part of a workplace that values your contributions and supports your growth.
• Ongoing opportunities for continued education such as lunch and learns hosted by various vendors and entities.

• Houston, TX
• Pearland, TX
• Friendswood, TX
• League City, TX
• Webster, TX
• Clear Lake, TX
• Pasadena, TX
• Baytown, TX
• Sugar Land, TX
• Missouri City, TX
• Katy, TX
• Richmond, TX
• Cypress, TX
• Spring, TX
• The Woodlands, TX
• Humble, TX
• Kingwood, TX
• Channelview, TX
• La Porte, TX
• Deer Park, TX

Know Someone Amazing?
If this role isn't the right fit but you know a great Veterinary Technician, send them our way!
Email [email protected] to learn more about current opportunities.

About Ethos Veterinary Health  

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class medicine, and help shape what veterinary care becomes next. Across our network of 140 specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You’ll work alongside respected veterinary leaders in academic-caliber hospitals designed for learning, teaching, and discovery. Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You’ll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow, clinically, professionally, and personally. At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and pursue veterinary medicine at its highest level, together.  

Join Us  
At Ethos, this isn’t just a job, it’s an opportunity to practice medicine at the highest level and help shape the future of veterinary care.  
Candidates can confidentially submit their CV to Talent Acquisition Partner Craig at [email protected]

Equal Opportunity Employer  
Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.