POSITION DESCRIPTION
|
POSITION SUMMARY: Performs nonprofessional
direct and indirect care activities under the supervision of a professional
Registered Nurse. Assists in the provision
of high quality, cost-effective care by performing delegated tasks. Performs preoperative, intraoperative, and
postoperative support activities to assist the nursing team caring for surgical/procedural
patients which may include total care within the scope of practice (stable
patient’s vital signs, activities of daily living) and the performance of
point of care testing. This unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) role has limited
access to medications including the transport of non-controlled substances at
the request of a licensed care provider.
May perform support activities
to assist the Sterile Processing team within the assigned specialty/service. |
MINIMUM
QUALIFICATIONS: |
|
EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND/OR
LICENSURE: |
|
1. |
High School diploma or
equivalent required. |
2. |
Successful completion of departmental
clinical support or PCA orientation. |
3 |
Obtain certification in
Basic Life Support or Heart Saver First Aid within 30 days of hire date. |
PREFERRED
QUALIFICATIONS: |
|
EXPERIENCE: |
|
1. |
Prior patient care experience. |
2. |
CNA or MA experience. |
CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The statements described here are intended to
describe the general nature of work being performed by people assigned to
this position. They are not intended
to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all responsibilities and
duties. Other duties may be assigned. |
|
1. |
Performs preoperative,
intraoperative, and postoperative support activities to assist the nursing
team caring for surgical/procedural patients which may include total care
within scope of practice (stable patient’s vital signs, activities of daily
living, promotion of comfort) and the performance of point of care
tests. Reports changes in patient’s
condition to a RN. Includes assisting
personnel in obtaining supplies, instruments, and equipment for
surgical/procedural cases. |
2. |
Utilizes appropriate aseptic technique to
open sterile supplies for patient use or for sterile field; performs shave
preps; and holds extremities during surgical or procedural preps. Cleans and prepared work area for next
patient and shift. |
3. |
Transports patients to and from various
areas. Cleans transport devices.
Assists with patient transfers and positioning. |
4. |
Retrieves/cleans patient care
equipment. Runs errands as directed in
timely manner. |
5. |
Reviews stocking lists,
preference cards, and supply carts to ensure/acquire supplies, instruments,
and equipment are available for patient care use. Assists in the maintenance of inventory
control system. |
6. |
Maintains effective inventory control system
including the daily stocking, checks for outdates (includes removal, discard,
or reprocessing following established guidelines), and monitoring of level of
supplies (i.e., case cart, trauma cart, suture packs) on supply/specialty
carts/rooms. Places or returns supplies,
instrumentation, and equipment to designated storage locations. Places unused sterile instrumentation and
soft goods back in the appropriate location when being returned from
Perioperative Services, HVI, or Children’s Hospital. |
7. |
Assists in maintaining a
clean, sanitary, and safe work environment in procedural areas and SPD
through the maintenance of egress corridors by monitoring halls keeping them
free of extra equipment allowing for easy equipment transportation; organization
and cleaning of work areas, storerooms, patient bays, computers, and
monitors; performance of post-case /post-care cleaning following established
policies; performance of terminal and isolation cleaning if necessary
including the daily/weekly cleaning of mobile fluid-waste equipment; cleaning/stocking
of scrub sinks/housekeeping carts; weekly warmer cleaning with logged
documentation; and cleaning of autoclaves as assigned. |
8. |
Processes instruments/scopes when requested
as the need arises. Prepares various
cleaning solutions used in the decontamination of instruments, equipment, and
rooms. Operates processing and
cleaning equipment (i.e., washer/sterilizer or immediate use sterilizer known
as IUS, and various other cleaning apparatus in OR, Sterile Processing, and
other designated areas following established policies. Documents in designated log books
completion of cleaning tasks. |
9. |
Wraps instruments and
supplies for sterilization labeling appropriately with color appropriate
labels. May be assigned the task of
preparing/processing OR linen and sterile packs. |
10. |
Documents appropriately
to foster the work of the department.
Duties can include the obtainment and recording of patient weight,
temperature, pulse, respirations, BP, intakes/outputs, and abdominal girths
as directed by the nursing staff. |
11. |
Transports specimens and
records specimen delivery to lab or in designated log books. Add fixative to specimens when needed. |
12. |
Provides respiratory
support by properly setting up equipment needed for oxygen administration
including the changing of tank regulators and checking of tank volumes. |
13. |
Follows all departmental policies and
procedures including the reporting of equipment/room repairs to appropriate
persons in a timely manner. Performs tagging of equipment and putting in
Biomed ticket for repair. |
14. |
Assists in routine unit
operations as directed/needed to ensure smooth communication and functioning
of the unit. Relays accurate
telephone, visitor, patient, and healthcare provider messages to appropriate
persons in a timely manner. |
15. |
Transports linens, trash, and biohazardous
case carts/materials according to established policies wearing PPE and
ensuring correct signage is in place prior to transport. |
16. |
Assists with room or bay set-up. May monitor sterile field set-up when
directed by registered nurse. |
17. |
Assists team by performing tasks such as
answering telephone and minor clerical duties in designated area. |
18. |
Transports non-narcotic
medications when directed by registered nurse. PCA may transport patient with a
PCA/Epidural pump. |
19. |
Cleans autoclaves in
Sterile Processing and Operating Room/Procedural Areas. Cleans and organizes Sterile Processing
areas as assigned. Cleans washers,
cart washer, dryers, shelving, and other equipment as assigned in accordance
with Manufacturer’s recommendation and departmental policy. |
20. |
Processes instruments
between cases (wash and sterilize by heat or cold sterilization) as the need
arises. Maintains orderliness and
cleanliness of various equipment and supplies in designated areas. Monitors halls keeping them free of extra equipment
allowing for easy equipment transportation.
|
21. |
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are
representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform
the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. |
|
1. |
Must be physically capable of prolonged
periods of standing and walking. |
2. |
No known history or malignant hyperthermia
(may not be waived). |
3. |
Must be capable of lifting
up to 60 pounds and pushing heavy loaded carts weighing more than 200
pounds. Able to transport patients on
stretchers, in wheelchairs, or in cribs |
4. |
Must be able to discern and distinguish
colors for point of care testing and inventory monitoring. |
5. |
Must possess visual and hearing acuity along
with manual dexterity and technical ability. |
6. |
Demonstrates ability to utilize PPE. |
WORKING ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here
are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the
essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. |
|
1. |
Work
is completed in direct patient care environment. |
2. |
Work area supports the activities of
multiple providers performing parallel processing. |
3. |
Must be able to work in a high stress
environment. |
4. |
Exposed to communicable diseases, body
fluids, and chemicals. |
SKILLS AND ABILITIES: |
|
1. |
Must understand and practice excellent
personal hygiene |
2. |
Must be able to operate computer program
with training. |
3. |
Must have ability to follow directions both written and verbal
(i.e., proficient reading and writing English language), and work with
people. |
4. |
Demonstrates team-building communications and work efforts to assist
healthcare providers. |
5. |
Demonstrates skills needed to utilize Safe Patient Handling
equipment. |
Date
Reviewed/Revised: June 2022 |