Operating Room Technician

As a member of the military, Operating Room Technicians are responsible for the provision of an aseptic environment enabling the safe performance of operative procedures in both static (at home) and operational (deployed) environments.

They are an integral member of the surgical team, providing perioperative care, post-operative care, assisting the surgeons and anesthesiologists, and performing orthopaedic casting procedures in support of surgery. OR Techs are also responsible for all Medical Device Reprocessing services, processing surgical materials and instruments.

An Operating Room Technician has the following primary duties:

• Providing a clean and safe environment for patient treatment and for assisting surgeons and anesthesiologists in all facets of the operative procedure;
• Operationally maintaining all field OR equipment and providing onsite training for OR Field operations as well as overseeing the setup of a field OR;
• Assisting in the recovery of patients from anesthesia;
• Decontamination, cleansing, maintenance and procurement of materials and instruments, and for the packaging and sterilization of supplies;
• Operating and maintaining medical and life-support equipment;
• Initiating, maintaining and distributing medical records, documents, reports and returns;
• Maintaining, replenishing and accounting for general and medical supplies.

Work environment

Operating Room Technicians spend most of their careers working directly in civilian hospitals in military OR teams or integrated with a civilian team within Canada, and deployed on international missions. They usually work a regular Monday to Friday schedule but may also work in shifts or on call depending on the circumstances.

If you choose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part-time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants must hold a Practical Nursing diploma, have a current license to practice as an LPN/RPN from a provincial or territorial regulatory authority, and a letter of good standing from the applicant’s professional regulatory authority. It is an asset for applicants to have a certification as an Operating Room Technician (LPN/RPN with peri-operative specialty).