Perioperative Assistant

Perioperative Assistant

Shift: Monday to Friday, 6am to 2:30pm

Work Arrangement: On-Site

Department: Operating Room University Hospital

Facility: University Hospital - 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO

Compensation: Base Pay Range: $15.00 (entry level qualifications) - $23.64 (highly experienced) per hour, based on experience.

• Union Bid Period: October 29 to November 4, 2026

About the Job

MU Health Care is seeking a dynamic and dedicated Perioperative Assistant to join our surgical services team. We are looking for candidates who are detail-oriented, proactive, and passionate about delivering exceptional patient care. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy being a critical part of a surgical team, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

As a Perioperative Assistant, you will play an essential role in supporting surgical staff and ensuring operating rooms are prepared, organized, and ready for patient care. Your ability to anticipate needs, maintain supplies, transport patients safely, and support efficient surgical operations will make you an invaluable member of the team.

About MU Health Care

MU Health Care is proud to be named one of Forbes' Best-in-State Employers seven years in a row, and that's largely a result of the incredible culture and team we've built. At MU Health Care, we have an inspired, hard-working and collaborative environment driven by our mission to save and improve lives. Here, we believe anything is possible and rally around solutions. We celebrate innovation and offer opportunities to be a part of something bigger — to have a voice and role in the work that is serving our community and changing the field of medicine.

Our academic health system — the only in mid-Missouri — is home to seven hospitals, including the region's only Level 1 Trauma Center and region's only Children's Hospital, as well as over 90 specialty clinics. Here you can define your career among our many clinical and nonclinical positions — with growth, opportunity and support every step of the way.

Employee Benefits

Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one

Generous paid leave and paid time off, including ten holidays

Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years

Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)

Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more

Detailed Job Description

All duties and standards within this document will be performed in compliance with regulatory guidelines and applicable federal/state laws according to University policies and procedures.

Appropriately tag and remove faulty equipment and return repaired equipment. Assess daily supply inventory and order daily or as directed.

Assist Anesthesia by running for supplies, cleaning mouth gags, re-supplying carts with supplies and positioning of patient.

Assist the staff nurse in patient care.

Initiates action in emergency situations (include CPR).

Maintain daily sterilizer logs, cidex logs, run chemical and biological indicators. Maintenance, ordering and correct usage of housekeeping supplies.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Perform pre/post-surgical needs for patient.

Pre/Post procedure cleaning of operating rooms, including soiled linen, trash collection and disposal, including proper disposal of biohazard materials.

Prepare equipment and supplies for use in Perioperative areas. Produce the annual inventory of O.R. equipment and supplies.

Provide comfort measures for patients by providing them with blankets and raising bed side-rails.

Pull add-on and next day cases as directed.

Routine daily, weekly and monthly cleaning of floors, walls, room furniture and equipment.

Stock rooms and warmers with supplies on a daily basis or as directed.

Store equipment and supplies correctly.

Transport surgical specimens, blood, blood products, cultures, non-narcotic medications, supplies and requisitions as needed.

Transportation of patient and patient's belongs.

May complete unit/department specific duties as outlined in department documents.

Required Qualifications

High school diploma or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities can be acquired.

Preferred Qualifications

One (1) year of experience working in a health care environment or patient care experience. Additional license/certification requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. This position is very active and requires ambulating, reaching, and moving objects weighing up to and over 20 lbs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.