Porter / Housekeeping

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

Porters report and are directed by the DES. Porters work with the health care team to ensure a sanitary, clean, safe and pleasant environment is present for our residents, staff and visitors. Porters monitors exterior and interior of the building and paths to preserve a sanitary, clean, neat and pleasant atmosphere for the residents, staff and community. Porters comply with legal and regulatory agency regulations to keep Oceanview building, environment and its premises homelike and sanitary. Porters in the building verify the Center’s commitment to its residents, staff and community sanitation, cleanliness, orderly and mission. New and creative planning shall keep the Center comfortable, pleasant and beautifully clean, while preventing infection and maintaining a safe and secure atmosphere. Special Demands 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk, hear and smell. The employee is occasionally required to sit. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Is required to have basic knowledge and skills in regard to mopping, dusting, cleaning, wiping, buffing and other techniques that reduce germs and dirt. Requires frequent heavy lifting, walking, pushing (of carts/ linen trucks) bending and reaching. Potential exposure to high level stimuli, e.g.- multiple simultaneous interactions, telephones, or equipment noise. Occasionally exposed to communicable diseases, unpleasant sights, and odor. All housekeeping personnel must abide by the employee health standards set down by the facility (annual physical and PPD/ C-Xray). Dress Code is followed: All uniforms should be changed when soiled and not worn outside the facility. Long sleeves/wrist or finger jewelry that might get caught in machinery should not be worn. Housekeeping personnel are oriented and trained to use cleaner, detergent, disinfectives and cleaning equipment in a safe manner. The housekeeping staff is aware of basic cleansing solutions, their side effects and manufacturer’s recommendations. May include working some evening and/or nightshifts, weekends, and holidays. Occasionally the employee may be exposed to the community environment (e.g.- smokers, sweeping patio or working out doors) and the presenting weather.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Understand, know and physically mop, sweep, dust (high and low) and polish. Know where to find porters’ list of required duties (and assignment). Employs proper techniques of floor care and knowledgeable about the operations and use of floor machines and other equipment (per manufacturers recommendations). Uses correct techniques in vacuuming, wall dusting, wall spotting and washing. Correctly cleans and sanitizes Oceanview public areas and toilet rooms. Effectively cleans, sanitizes and prepares rooms of discharged/ transferred residents. Effectively cleans and sanitizes environmental equipment/ furniture (e.g.- banisters, side rails, over- bed tables, dressers, closets, moldings, etc.). Strip/ wax room, as assigned. Any other duties assigned by DES/ or designee. 2. Human Resources functions include: Mentoring and showing new porters about the Center, building set-up/ job functions and mission. Keeps all information regarding residents, employees and Oceanview confidential, privileged and private. Attends all mandatory education on orientation and annually there after. Acts as a role model for porters, house keeping, maintenance or others. Attends and contributes at house keeping/ maintenance staff departmental quarterly meetings (can offer new, creative, information/ ideas that shall increase staff ability, motivation and service). Has good attendance and is timely. Can act independently when DES/ Administrator is not present. Uses power tools safely. 3. Implements the house keeping programs by: Prioritizing cleaning schedules and order. Schedule cleaning from clean rooms to dirty. Mops, clean up spills and uses hazard signage, as necessary. Schedule changing water, as often as necessary and according to Center’s protocols. Provide for clear passageway (leave carts on one side of corridor and off unit at break time). Refrigerators and freezers are inspected daily and maintained in a safe and clean way. Requesting resident precaution information from charge nurses during morning report. Ensuring proper notification is on doors (Precaution signage “See Nurse Before Entering”.) Verify contact precaution cabinet is stocked with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Rooms that house residents with infections are done last. If a room where an infection is present is cleaned, first the water and soaps are changed before proceeding to the next room. Rooms where infections are present are completed in a timely manner to reduce exposure of the housekeeper to bacteria. Ordering needed supplies and equipment for cleaning. Recommending better methods for more effective or efficient cleaning methods. Porter’s closets are kept locked, when porter is not in them. Porter’s closets are maintained in an orderly manner. Dirty/ clean utility rooms are kept locked, when not in use by staff. Housekeeping carts are kept within vision and never left unattended (to protect resident or other form misusing equipment or solutions). Label all products with porter’s initials and the date opened (discard contents as recommended by manufacturer, usually discard 30-days after opening). Know where the materiel safety data sheets are kept (in nursing station, DES office). Check the MSDS manual, if a chemical is spilled or splashed on some one (“Right To Know Law”). Alert DES when new products are used (DES will update MSDS manual for safety of employees/ residents). Porters will only use products that are ordered and approved by DES. Porters shall know and understand what the various products are and their uses (see MSDS manual). Porters do not mix any products that require dilution prior to use. The proper solution will be prepared in housekeeping and issued to the porters with instructions for correct application. All bottles/ containers are appropriately labeled (with product solution, dilution, purpose, date made, date issued, date to be discarded and name of person preparing mixture). All bottles/ containers that have chemicals/ sanitizing or cleaning agents are kept in secure locations so that residents or others will not have access to them. When chemicals or mixtures are present, porter/ housekeeper must close the container/ bottle, when not in use. 4. Infection prevention is managed by: Using correct chemicals, mixtures to sanitize, clean and reduce germs from the environment. Use friction and appropriate techniques when terminally cleaning discharged, transferred or hospitalized resident room. Clean infection control (contact precaution/ or private rooms) with care and more frequency as recommended by charge nurse on unit. Learn how to break infection chain: MICROBE Presence An infecting organism such as a bacteria, virus, parasite, fungus Sanitize and clean to reduce numbers of microbes in the environment (tables, dressers, bed rails, handles, door knobs and hands)

MODE OF TRANSMISSION

Method of transmitting the microbe to the residents, such as CONTACT, AIRBORNE, VEHICLE (a contaminated object) or VECTOR (insect) Store, use and supply proper Personal Protective equipment (gloves, masks, gowns, eye shields) and contact precautions, to prevent spread form place to place, person to person or insect to person. Hand hygiene must be frequent and adequate (see hand hygiene policy). Report when insect lamp is not functional to maintenance.

SUSCEPTIBLE HOST

Resident/ staff/ visitor who is at risk for developing an infection. Examples: cancer residents, surgical residents, long-term care residents. Vaccinate immunocompromised individuals and those health care members who come in contact with them.

PORTAL OF ENTRY

Route that infecting organisms enters the host (skin, oral, nose, rectal, vaginally or any opening into body). Identify how microbe/ germ is transmitted and institute proper precautions. Assist staff is preventing skin irritation or breaks (supply clean linen) Beds of infected residents on contact precautions are in private rooms or bed is at least 3 feet apart (when instructed by infection control practitioner or designee. Food is properly cleaned, stored, cooked and served by the kitchen staff. Completes high dusting when resident is out of area being cleaned. 5. Resident observations, evaluations, reporting and recording: Housekeeping employees respect resident rights to privacy. Each housekeeper understands and correctly knocks and announces who is entering and why. Each housekeeper will inform nursing of unsafe conditions to prevent incidents. All housekeeping staff understands the concept of abuse prohibition. Keep beds in the proper positions after cleaning. Report if resident is calling for help (answer call bell and get nurse, as appropriate). Check empty rooms waiting new admits for readiness. Check resident equipment (pumps) and furniture and cleans them weekly or when dirty or spillage is noted. Check for supplies needs (e.g.- soap in washing areas and sinks, toilet paper). Offensive odors shall be reported and when causality identified corrected. It is every staff’s responsibility to maintain a safe, secure and accident free environment. 6. Acts as an interdisciplinary team member by: Reports un-safe conditions to DES/ or designee. Residents who hoard food, papers and other items that could attract pests are referred to social work service (for counseling and follow up). Request daily infection control information from charge unit nurse in A.M. Report. Increases frequency of sanitation and the amount of vehicles (tables, doorknobs, etc.) when infection is present. Keeps clothing covered on linen carts until ready for C.N.A. retrieval. Removes dirty hampers and soiled linen mesh bags for Oceanside Laundry Company when residents are not in hallway (least traffic). Trash shall be removed and put in compactor when residents are not in hallway (least traffic). Trash, if properly bagged, can be satisfactorily transferred to the dumpster. Perishable wastes, collected by the collection service, should be retained in watertight receptacles of impervious materials with tight fitting closures (e.g. dumpsters) that will protect the contents from flies, insects and rodents (door shall be secured closed when dumpster not in use). Hazardous waste is transported by a company approved by city (and OSHA/ DOH guidelines) Infectious wastes will be transported to safety medical system for incineration/ or landfill under the DES supervision by hazardous waste contracted company.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must not have a record in regard to abuse, neglect or mistreatment (registry of 2 neighboring states, criminal background checks and personal references). High school diploma, general education degree (GED) or trade school diploma, including courses in sanitation, infection control, and general principles of cleaning. Must be able to communicate simple instructions given orally or in written format (in order to comprehend porter’s schedule and daily assignments). Must be able to understand instructions from DES/ or designee during education, training and in-service instructions for on-the-job performance. Must have related training/ experience to do the job assigned (e.g.- house keeping, porter). #J-18808-Ljbffr Oceanview-Nursing-