Operating Room Assistant

Summary: 

The OR Assistant (ORA), under the general supervision of a Registered Nurse, routinely performs a variety of direct and indirect patient care activities within the established policies and procedures of Perioperative Services. The position requires interactions with all members of the health care team, patients, technicians, nurses, physicians, surgeons, and other suite/hospital staff. He/she assists with the turn over of the surgical suite rooms, inspection and cleaning of equipment, stocking of supplies, patient transport,patient positioning and is authorized to pick up blood products from Transfusion Medicine Services as directed by Charge nurse/RN Circulator. The ORA has no supervisory duties. He/she reports directly to the Nurse Manager or another member of the Perioperative management team as designated by the Nurse Manager. This description covers the essential functions of the ORA position. The incumbant is expected to perform similar tasks and other duties assigned. Management has the right to change or add to the job responsibilities at any time.

Job Responsibilities: 

1) Provides age-appropriate care to patients. Demonstrated knowledge of developmental stages for the following age groups and applies developmental theories and concepts when planning and implementing care for patients.2) Maintains an environment conducive to safe and aseptic patient care. Informs Charge Nurse/ RN Circulator of conditions requiring action to ensure safety, aseptic conditions,and or infection control issues prior to completion of scheduled shift. Completes daily inspection and cleaning of equipment in assigned area in a timely manner. Prepares suite rooms for patients according to procedure. Removes faulty equipment from area, labels it appropriately and reports to Charge Nurse/RN Circulator and discusses alternatives for replacement equipment. Follows policies/procedures relative to Universal Precautions at all times. Wears appropriate personal protective equipment at all times. Maintains confidentiality when interacting with patients and their families. 3) Participates in staff development and education activities.Completes all mandatory in-service updates and web based training on an annual basis as evidenced by attendance rosters. Attends 50% of staff meetings for OR assistants. Shows initiative when learning new procedures. Completion of competencies assigned and any maintenance to clinical ladder program. Assists to develop competency training. 4) Assists in maintaining established supply PAR levels 100% of the time as defined by the needs of the unit. On a daily basis, communicates need for necessary supplies. Recommends changes to Par levels as needed.Cleans and restores Suite/ OR Pods as necessary. Independently checks suplies during the day for appropriate par levels and obtains needed equipment/suplies. Independently checks and restocks blanket warmer through- out the day. 5) Remain in assigned area 90% of the time to assist transporting patients. Provide necessary and appropriate equipment to OR suite rooms as requested. Be available for assisting team of nurses and techs as needed. Offer assistance outside of assignments. 6) Answers phones and patient call lights as needed. Assists Registered Nurse in the pre-op area as needed with admission process. Assists Registered Nurse in the post op area as needed. Assists Registered Nurse in post op area by preparing patient for discharge from PACU area, discontinuing compression boots, removing monitor cables, emptying foly catheter bags, obtaining oxygen tank etc under the direction of the registered nurse.Transports patients to car for discharge via wheelchair or to in house bed via stretcher independently as needed. 7) Provides appropriate patient care within defined limits. Assists with clipping of hair as assigned by RN and as directed, assists with holding limbs for prepping as needed. Positioning of patients for proper alignment for surgery; Supine to prone, lateral right and left. Provide equipment for positioning as needed, pillows, foam, gel supports.8) Provides pro-actively and independently for set up of equipment as needed. Correct bed for OR suite, suction canisters, towers for procedure, stools, black mats.Prepares OR rooms with equipment and set up for traumas as needed. 9) Ensures that O2 tank is available for transport and secured in holder in room. Empty tanks are exchanged as needed and secured in tank holder for return.10) Turn over of room in between cases is using a standard process to ensure that aseptic technique is utilized: empty all waste and linen, empty suction and replace containers, using approved wet sanitizer, clean all horizontal surfaces,sanitize all touch points and surfaces,refill gloves as needed, clean bed surface and under bed, wet mop area around bed and any area that visually needs moping.Leave OR room set up for next case with appropriate equipment.Assists other staff with turnover and positioning as needed.11) Prepares patients for morgue as assigned and trained under the direction of the OR Circulator/Charge RN.12) Communicate effectively with team, patients, and customers. Interacts in a professional mannor displaying the operating principles of behavior with: trust, integrity,respect, communication and collaboration. Role model expected behaviors for other OR assistants.13) Is knowledgable of and initiates emergency procedures under the direction of the RN;pull code light, get code cart, obtain supples as needed. Responds effectivelty in emergency situations as observed. Maintains patient safety at all times. Pro-actively assists in emergency situations.     14) End of day complete OR assistant communication log, if setting up trauma room complete check list if applicable. Empty cleaning bucket and ensure all your stocking is completed in your area of responsibility. Identify issues not completed on shift and passes the information to oncoming shift ORA /charge nurse.15) Mentor and Precepts new employees and acts as a roll model.16) Participates and performs infection control hand hygiene audits and reports non compliance to Manager.17) Participates in monthly unit-based education and becomes a contributor.

Required Work Experience: 

1) None required

Preferred Work Experience: 

1) 3-6 months in a hospital setting

Skills and Competencies: 

1) He/she must be capable of following instructions, possess good interpersonal skills and prioritize various activities assigned2)  Must successfully complete the orientation program for ORA3)  The position demands continuous attention to detailed instructions requiring good hand-eye coordination, mechanical ability, as well as intact or corrected vision and hearing4)  The ORA must think independently and be able to perform duties during stressful situations encountered in the surgical suite environment

Note: The compensation range(s) in the table below represent the base salaries for all positions at a given grade across the health system. Typically, a new hire can expect a starting salary somewhere in the lower part of the range. Actual salaries may vary by position and will be determined based on the candidate's relevant experience. No employee will be paid below the minimum of the range. Pay ranges are listed as hourly for non-exempt employees and based on assumed full time commitment for exempt employees.

Minimum - Midpoint - Maximum

$17.98 - $20.68 - $24.12

Baystate Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.