Cathy Balmores
Operating Room Attendant
About
Operating Room Attendant with 2 years of experience improving OR efficiency and maintaining sterile conditions in ambulatory surgical settings. Applies strict infection control, precise instrument preparation, and reliable patient transfers to support on-time case starts and reduce turnover. Seeks to expand perioperative competencies and contribute to high-quality surgical care.
Experience
OR AIDE (OPERATING ROOM AIDE) - Rockyview Surgical Center - Calgary
(2024-05 - 2026-06)
- Prepped and sterilized surgical instruments using autoclave protocols, reducing intraoperative delays.
- Stocked operating room with procedure-specific trays and implants, maintaining immediate availability.
- Assisted circulating nurse with patient transfers and positioning, preserving sterile field and safety.
- Logged instrument counts and discrepancies on surgical count sheets, preventing retained-item incidents.
- Maintained equipment readiness by performing daily checks on cautery units and suction systems.
- Restocked sterile supplies between cases, cutting turnover time and keeping case schedules on track.
- Prepared emergency crash carts and checked defibrillator readiness to support rapid intraoperative response.
MEDICAL DEVICE TECHNICIAN - Foothills Medical Center
(2018-01 - 2024-03)
- Inspected surgical instruments using borescope and calipers, removing defective items from circulation.
- Repaired and calibrated electrosurgical and monitoring devices using manufacturer schematics and multimeter diagnostics.
- Executed sterilization cycles per hospital protocol, documented cycle parameters in Steris logbooks.
- Transported sterile instrument sets to operating rooms, coordinated handoffs with circulating nurses.
- Implemented barcode-based inventory checks for trays, reduced missing-item incidents during case setup.
- Performed preventive maintenance on sterilizers and autoclaves, logged service actions in CMMS.
- Trained new technicians on aseptic technique and infection-control policies during six-week orientation.
LIVE-IN CAREGIVER - Kearns Family
(2012-06 - 2017-12)
- Scheduled and accompanied client to medical appointments, communicated observations to physicians and family members.
- Administered prescribed medications on schedule, recorded doses and symptoms in daily medication log for caregivers.
- Performed routine home safety checks, identified trip hazards, and implemented adjustments to reduce fall risk.
- Prepared and served tailored meals following dietary restrictions and care plan to manage blood sugar and weight.
- Managed household inventory and ordered supplies, maintaining consistent stock of medical and personal necessities.
- Transported client to community activities and errands, maintaining mobility routine and social engagement.
- Provided daily personal care for elderly client, assisted with bathing, dressing, and grooming to maintain dignity and hygiene.
Education
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY - Lyceum Northwestern University (1997-06 - 2021-05)
COURSES - MEDICAL DEVICE REPROCESSING TECHNICIAN - ABES College (2017-04 - 2017-11)
COURSES - CAREGIVER - Extendicare (2011-01 - 2011-07)