Operating Room Assistant/UKHC

UK HealthCare; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 21,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

UK HealthCare in Lexington, KY seeks an Operating Room Assistant (ORA) to support the nursing team. Duties include opening sterile supplies, handling instruments, transporting patients, and supporting OR turnover while maintaining patient confidentiality and aseptic technique.

The ideal candidate has HS education, about 1 year of related hospital experience, and strong communication with attention to detail. Shift includes nights, weekends, and on-call as needed.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will be able to follow directions with strong organization and attention to detail.
• Customer focus and exceptional communication skills are required.
• HS education is the minimum requirement.

Responsibilities

• Assist nursing team with opening sterile supplies and instrument handling.
• Transport patients and secure patient belongings; verify IDs.
• Perform OR turnover duties: clean tables, mop floors, change linens and trash.
• Handle equipment and supplies aseptically; assist with inventory counts.

Skills

Follow directions

Organization

Attention to detail

Customer focus

Communication skills

Education

HS

Job description

Posting Details

Job Title: Operating Room Assistant/UKHC

Requisition Number: RE55772

Working Title: ORA

Department Name: H3320:Perioperative Services

Work Location: Lexington, KY

Grade Level: 05

Salary Range: $15.00-22.60/hour

Type of Position: Staff

Position Time Status: Full-Time

Required Education: HS

Click here for more information about equivalencies: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies

Required Related Experience: 1 yr

Required License/Registration/Certification: None

Physical Requirements: This position requires regularly lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects weighing up to or over 50 pounds; and standing or walking with objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Also involves some exposure to risk of injury from moving, lifting, or positioning patients, equipment, or materials; and exposure to blood-borne or airborne pathogens and recombinant DNA or viral vectors.

Shift: Must be able to work 36 hours per week; nights with some weekends, holidays, and on-call requirements per departmental need.

Job Summary: The ORA assists the nursing team through duties such as opening sterile supplies; holding instruments and extremities; running errands; obtaining supplies and blood/pharmacy products; transporting patients by bed, wheelchair, or stretcher; ensuring patient ID badges are correct; securing patient belongings; and performing OR turnover duties including cleaning OR tables, mopping floors, changing trash and linens, and assisting with inventory counts. Responsibilities involve handling equipment and supplies with aseptic technique; efficiently communicating; maintaining patient confidentiality; and pushing, pulling, and/or lifting patients and objects up to/greater than 100 pounds.

Internal Employee Being Considered.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

The ideal candidate will have the ability to follow directions; excellent organization skills; great attention to detail; customer focus; and exceptional communication skills.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No

Preferred Education/Experience: Previous hospital experience preferred.

Deadline to Apply: 09/17/2026

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.