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Perioperative Nursing Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

At Houston Methodist, the Perioperative Nursing Assistant (PNA) position is responsible for applying basic knowledge and skills necessary to communicate appropriately and carry out delegated nursing ...

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Perioperative Nursing Assistant information

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$22K

$37.8K

$54K

How much do perioperative nursing assistant jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for perioperative nursing assistant in the United States is $37,838.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $31,500.00 and $41,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a perioperative nursing assistant?

Perioperative Nursing Assistants are healthcare professionals who support nurses and surgical teams before, during, and after surgical procedures. Their duties often include preparing operating rooms, assisting with patient positioning, maintaining sterile environments, and transporting patients. They play a critical role in ensuring surgeries run smoothly and safely. Perioperative Nursing Assistants work closely with registered nurses, surgeons, and other medical staff in hospital operating rooms and surgical centers.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a perioperative nursing assistant in the operating room?

As a Perioperative Nursing Assistant, your daily responsibilities often include preparing operating rooms by ensuring all necessary equipment and supplies are sterile and ready for surgery, assisting surgical staff with patient positioning and transport, and maintaining a clean and safe environment. You'll also help with patient preparation before procedures, such as gowning and monitoring vital signs under supervision. Throughout the day, you work closely with nurses, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals to support patient care and ensure smooth workflow in the surgical area.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a perioperative nursing assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Perioperative Nursing Assistant, you need a solid understanding of surgical asepsis, patient transport, and basic patient care techniques, typically supported by a nursing assistant certification and experience in clinical settings. Familiarity with surgical instruments, sterilization equipment, and electronic health records systems is often required. Strong teamwork, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for supporting surgical teams and ensuring patient safety. These skills and qualities are essential for maintaining sterile environments, efficient workflows, and positive surgical outcomes.

What is the difference between Perioperative Nursing Assistant vs Surgical Technologist?

AspectPerioperative Nursing AssistantSurgical Technologist
CredentialsHigh school diploma, CPR certificationPost-secondary certificate or associate degree, CPR certification
Work EnvironmentHospitals, surgical centers, assisting nurses and surgeonsOperating rooms, assisting surgeons and nurses during procedures
Employer & IndustryHospitals, outpatient surgical facilitiesSurgical centers, hospitals, clinics

Perioperative Nursing Assistants and Surgical Technologists both work in surgical settings, supporting patient care and assisting during procedures. While Nursing Assistants typically have a high school diploma and assist nurses with patient care, Surgical Technologists usually hold specialized training and focus on preparing operating rooms and instruments. Both roles are essential in surgical teams, but their training and specific duties differ.

More about Perioperative Nursing Assistant jobs

What cities are hiring for Perioperative Nursing Assistant jobs?

Cities with the most Perioperative Nursing Assistant job openings:

What states have the most Perioperative Nursing Assistant jobs?

States with the most job openings for Perioperative Nursing Assistant jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Perioperative Nursing Assistant jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Perioperative Nursing Assistant jobs are:

Infographic showing various Perioperative Nursing Assistant job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,838 per year, or $18.2 per hour.

Perioperative Nursing Assistant (PNA) CVOR

Houston Methodist

On-site

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago


Houston Methodist rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 301 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

55th of 898 rated healthcare providers


Job description

At Houston Methodist, the Perioperative Nursing Assistant (PNA) position is responsible for applying basic knowledge and skills necessary to communicate appropriately and carry out delegated nursing assistant level tasks for assigned age-specific, diverse patient population, assisting in the delivery of patient care and services under the supervision of a licensed nurse. This position assists with the physical preparation of the patient and physical environment prior to a surgical procedure being performed. The PNA position practices Relationship-Centered care in concert with the values of Houston Methodist. FLSA STATUS
Non-exempt
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION
  • High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)

EXPERIENCE
  • Previous experience in a healthcare role such as Patient Care Assistant, Transporter, Environmental Services Tech or basic Perioperative Nursing Assistant course preferred

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required
  • BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
  • Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
  • Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially regarding activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
  • Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
  • Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  • Promotes a positive work environment with the interprofessional care team. Participates in teamwork by responding positively to requests for assistance, taking the initiative to check on a regular basis if assistance is needed by the team. Works well with others to make contributions to the work effort and facilitates problem resolution.
  • Interacts with peers, staff and physicians in a supportive and respectful manner. Encourages open communication to achieve mutual understanding. Communication to promote both work efforts and problem resolution is clear and professional. Follows channels of communication for effective problem solving. Collaborates with all members of the interprofessional team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information in a clear and timely manner.
  • Provides contributions towards improvement of department scores for turnover/retention/employee engagement on unit-based scorecard, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  • Provides assistant level care to Surgical Services patients within unit specific defined limits. Assists with preparation of the physical environment prior to surgical procedure, cleaning the room using prescribed sterile techniques, ensuring the maintenance of a clean and organized environment.
  • Transports patients to and from assigned room and assists with the preparation and positioning of the patient prior to surgical procedure.
  • Checks and maintains appropriate levels of surgical gowns, masks, cleaning supplies, and other supplies for the department.
  • Transports specimens, cultures, blood products, and body fluids to laboratory using universal precautions.
  • Contributes towards improving department scores for patient satisfaction on unit-based scorecard through peer-to-peer accountability.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  • Reports observations, conditions and problems of patients to licensed personnel to achieve desired patient outcomes. Provides for the privacy of patients and families, keeping the safety of the patient in mind.
  • Reports "near misses" and inputs errors promptly into PSN to improve processes and identify trends. Assists in identification of corrective action and improvement activities.
  • Supports initiatives to prevent conditions such as patient falls, and hospital-acquired infections. Contributes towards improving quality and safety scores on the unit-based scorecard, through peer-to-peer accountability.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  • Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime. Utilizes time between heavy workloads efficiently and helps other team members.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  • Seeks guidance and validation of knowledge base, skill level and decision making as necessary, especially in areas of question, from preceptor and assigned licensed personnel. Completes and updates the individual development plan (IDP) on an on-going basis.
  • Offers innovative solutions through participation in performance improvement projects and shared governance activities.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
    WORK ATTIRE
    • Uniform: No
    • Scrubs: Yes
    • Business professional: No
    • Other (department approved): No

    ON-CALL*
    *Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
    • On Call* Yes

    TRAVEL**
    **Travel specifications may vary by department**
    • May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
    • May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Work Shift:

2 - Evening (United States of America)

Job Category:

Non-clinical Houston Methodist Hospital is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Texas and one of America's "Best Hospitals." As a full-service, acute-care hospital located in the Texas Medical Center and the flagship hospital of Houston Methodist, it has evolved into one of the nation's largest nonprofit teaching hospitals and a leader in innovative medical research with a comprehensive residency program. Two of Houston Methodist's primary academic affiliates are among the nation's leading health care organizations: Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Houston Methodist also has affiliations with Texas A&M University and the University of Houston. Houston Methodist Hospital offers unparalleled care for thousands of patients from around the world.

Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.


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