Operating Room Assistant

Rhode Island Hospital's Surgical Services department is seeking an Operating Room Assistant to provide essential non-medical support in the operating room environment. In this full-time role, you will work under general supervision to ensure surgical suites are properly prepared, equipped, and maintained, and to assist with patient transport and preoperative procedures.

Responsibilities

• Transport patients to and from the surgical suite
• Review preoperative patient charts to verify all forms are signed and tests are completed; report discrepancies to nursing personnel
• Prepare surgical rooms by ensuring basic supplies are available, including blankets, solutions, and syringes
• Clean furniture and equipment between cases
• Obtain necessary supplies and equipment required for specific procedures
• Assist in prepping patients for surgery, including preoperative scrubs, lifting, moving, and positioning patients, and supporting patients during procedures such as spinal anesthesia injection
• Routinely inventory, requisition, receive, and stock supplies in established areas, including sterile linen, instruments, and scrub clothes
• Pick up supplies and materials for Surgical Services from various hospital areas, including pharmaceuticals, blood and plasma
• Deliver cultures and surgery specimens to designated hospital areas for analysis
• Assist in general cleaning and maintenance of the operating room, including washing equipment, sorting and stocking supplies, cleaning rooms, washing stretchers, and changing light bulbs
• Clean, dry, package, and seal supplies and materials for sterilization, including washing, assembling, and wrapping basin sets
• Operate steam and water pressure sterilizers to clean and sterilize items
• Assemble patient record packs of charge slips appropriate for specific surgical procedures

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred
• Ability to recognize changes in patient condition and report to nursing personnel
• Ability to perform simple numerical calculations to calculate and requisition supplies
• Knowledge of aseptic techniques to ensure proper cleaning of rooms, equipment, and materials
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills to provide care to patients with consideration of aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns
• Ability to read, write, and understand English
• One to three months of on-the-job training and experience

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• Physical ability to transport patients throughout the hospital, assist in lifting and positioning patients, and clean and set up equipment
• Work in the operating room area with exposure to odors and bodily fluids when assisting with patients
• Required to stand for extended periods when assisting with preoperative procedures
• Some exposure to chemical fumes and infectious disease when cleaning equipment and rooms
• Frequent standing, walking, lifting, and carrying to clean equipment, replenish supplies, transport patients and materials, and stock areas

Schedule and Compensation

• Full-time position, 40 hours per week
• Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with alternating weekends
• Day shift
• Pay range: $21.76 to $22.75 per hour
• Union position (International Brotherhood of Teamsters)

Location

• Rhode Island Hospital, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903
• No driving required