Job: Operating Room Specialist (68D)

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To be a U.S. Army Soldier is to be a part of the strongest fighting force in the world. You'll spend your days training, working and serving together to protect America's freedoms. But you'll also have time after work for family, friends and personal interests. From recruitment to retirement, the U.S. Army provides a unique and diverse lifestyle for Soldiers.


Injured or wounded Soldiers need immediate treatment, so when Army physicians aren't available, the Operating Room Specialist steps in to provide basic and emergency medical treatment. The operating room specialist assists the nursing staff in preparing the patient and the operating room (OR) environment for surgery and for providing assistance to the medical staff during surgical procedures. They also operate the centralized material service (CMS) and are responsible for preparing and maintaining sterile medical supplies and special equipment for medical treatment facilities. The operating room specialist also assists in the management of operating room suites. Some of your other duties as an Operating Room Specialist may include:

* Assist in preparing patients and operating room environment for surgery
* Provide assistance to the medical staff during surgical procedures to include the creation and maintenance of sterile fields for surgical procedures
* Assist in the accountability for all instruments, needles, sponges and medications placed within the sterile field
* The duties do not include the manipulation of tissue (cutting, suturing, cannulating, grafting, sawing or drilling)
* Perform various preoperative and postoperative procedures as directed
* Maintain the cleanliness of the operating room
* Receive, clean, decontaminate, sterilize, store and issue various medical supplies and equipment used during surgical procedures
* Responsible for the sterilization process, which includes inspecting, cleaning, assembling, warping and sterilizing equipment
* Operate and run sterilization checks on a variety of sterilization equipment to include Steam, Sterrad and Steris Systems

Job training for an Operating Room Specialist requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 19 weeks of Advanced Individual Training and on-the-job instruction. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

* Emergency medical treatment
* Basic nursing care
* Study of the human body
* Minor surgical procedures
* Clinical laboratory procedures
* Methods for diagnosing diseases

Helpful attributes include:

* An interest in helping and caring for others
* An ability to communicate effectively
* An ability to work under stressful conditions
* An interest in chemistry, biology, psychology, general science and algebra
* Attention to detail

Advanced level Operating Room Specialist provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Operating Room Specialist, you may be involved in:

* Perform circulator services under the direct supervision on an RN as required
* Sets up, position, and operate specialized and advanced operating room equipment
* Supervise and advise subordinate personnel

The skills you learn as an Operating Room Specialist will help prepare you for a future with civilian hospitals, clinics, nursing homes or rehabilitation centers. With an Operating Room Specialist background, you may consider a career as a medical assistant, medication aide or physician's assistant.

After completing your Advanced Individual Training as an Operating Room Specialist, you'll have the chance to pursue certification as a Certified Surgical Technologist.

* Health Care Specialist (68W)
* Mental Health Specialist (68X)
* Preventive Medicine Specialist (68S)
* Radiology Specialist (68P)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.