Surgical Services Assistant II

About the role

This role provides fundamental care and services to the patient, family, and the unit environment. The scope of service encompasses patient safety, customer service, and maintaining a safe and clean environment for the surgical patient.

Responsibilities

• Ensures the O.R. remains clean, free of clutter, and stocked with necessary supplies and equipment (e.g., arthroscopy pump, fluoroscopy beds, video equipment, overhead tables).
• Performs cleaning duties: utility areas, hallways, restrooms, equipment, shelves, cart racks, and scrub sinks.
• Stocks work areas and O.R. rooms with supplies (gloves, needle boxes, etc.), checks for outdated supplies, and records refrigerator temperatures; reports maintenance needs.
• Supports the team by running errands (e.g., Blood Bank, Central Service, Pathology, X-Ray) and staying accessible in the designated area.
• Transports specimens as directed by the RN and assists with patient positioning and movement from bed to stretcher.
• Transports floor patients to the O.R., demonstrating sound judgment and understanding of hospital codes.
• Removes unneeded equipment and returns it to proper storage.
• Performs surgical shave preps per O.R. guidelines or surgeon preference.
• Assists the circulating nurse with tying sterile gowns and surgical preps under RN direction.
• Retrieves and delivers case carts from Central Service to the appropriate O.R. room before scheduled start times.
• Communicates pertinent patient information (e.g., isolation precautions, special needs) to team members and ancillary departments.
• Reports observations and data to appropriate team members (RN, AAC, surgeon).
• Demonstrates leadership by motivating, educating, and mentoring peers, and acting calmly during emergencies.
• Attends unit meetings, in-services, and education programs as required.
• Maintains orderliness and efficiency to minimize turnaround time between cases, adhering to AORN Standards.
• Displays flexibility in accepting changes to assignments and understands fiscal responsibility.
• Ensures patient safety by positioning beds/stretchers/carts appropriately and calling maintenance for repairs.
• Follows infection control protocols: hand washing, aseptic technique, universal precautions, isolation procedures, and proper waste disposal.
• Handles spills and hazardous materials according to hospital policy and knows the location of fire alarms, extinguishers, and hoses.
• Responds promptly to patient emergencies, fires, or disasters and reports to the person in charge.
• Handles oxygen tanks safely and ensures patient consent is signed and documented.
• Adheres to sterile technique and follows the established dress code and chain of command.

Qualifications

• Education: High school graduate or G.E.D. equivalent.
• Experience: None required.
• Certification: BLS (Basic Life Support) certificate.