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Operating Room Assistant Job Description

What does an Operating Room Assistant do?

An Operating Room Assistant, also known as a Surgical or Theatre Assistant, is responsible for providing assistance in the operating room during surgical procedures. Their duties may vary depending on the requirements of the hospital or surgical team, but they typically prepare and maintain equipment needed for the surgery, provide surgical instruments to the surgeon, help position the patient for the operation, and ensure that the operating room is clean and sterile. They also help with transporting patients to and from the operating room, and provide support to the surgical team as needed. Operating Room Assistants play an important role in ensuring that surgical procedures run smoothly and that patients receive high-quality care.

Our Operating Room Assistant job description includes the Operating Room Assistant responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.

Operating Room Assistant Example


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If you need an example job description for an Operating Room Assistant download the one below, alternatively we have many other Healthcare job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.

What does an Operating Room Assistant do?

The Operating Room Assistant provides support to the operating room team and assists in the delivery of quality patient care. The role involves maintaining a safe and clean operating room environment, preparing and maintaining instruments and equipment, and providing assistance to surgeons, nurses and other healthcare professionals during surgical and other medical procedures. The successful candidate will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as an understanding of medical terminology and a willingness to learn. They will also be organised, efficient and pay attention to detail.

Operating Room Assistant Role Purpose

The purpose of an Operating Room Assistant in the UK is to provide support to anaesthetists, surgeons and other medical staff during procedures and operations in the operating theatre. This includes ensuring that the equipment and supplies needed for the procedure are in place, as well as helping to prepare patients for surgery and assisting during the procedure as directed by the medical team. Operating Room Assistants may also be responsible for maintaining a safe and hygienic environment in the operating theatre, and for ensuring the cleanliness and sterility of surgical instruments.

Operating Room Assistant Role

Operating Room Assistants provide support to surgeons and other medical staff during operations, ensuring that the operating room is safe, properly equipped and maintained. They may assist in preparing patients for surgery, sterilising equipment, setting up operating rooms and providing support during surgery.

Operating Room Assistant Duties

  • Assist surgeons during operations
  • Prepare operating rooms and surgical instruments
  • Assist with patient transfers and positioning
  • Maintain a sterile environment in the operating room
  • Provide assistance to anesthesiologists
  • Monitor and record vital signs as required
  • Keep accurate records

Operating Room Assistant Requirements

  • Assisting in the preparation of operating rooms for surgical procedures
  • Sterilizing instruments, stocking supplies and maintaining equipment
  • Ensuring that the operating room remains clean and well-organised
  • Assisting surgeons and other medical professionals during surgical procedures
  • Carrying out patient safety checks

Operating Room Assistant Skills

  • Ability to work collaboratively with surgeons and other medical professionals
  • Ability to follow instructions accurately
  • Knowledge of medical terminology
  • Ability to maintain a clean, sterile operating environment
  • Ability to move and lift medical equipment and supplies
  • Ability to handle emergency situations

Operating Room Assistant Personal Traits

  • Attention to detail
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to work as part of a team

How to write an Operating Room Assistant Job Advert

Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.

A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.

Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.

How to write an Operating Room Assistant Job Description

To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.

Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise an Operating Room Assistant Job Specification

The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.

Job Description Tips - Help on formatting an Operating Room Assistant Job Specification

When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:

Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.

Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.

Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.

The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.

Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth. 

Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources. 

Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.

Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.

Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.

How to Hire an Operating Room Assistant

Once you have selected your Job Description download it or convert it to a Job Advert. From here you can post/advertise your job across our network of job boards. If you wish to use the job description for a CV Template click through for advice and Convert to a CV

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