OR SURGICAL AIDE

Surgical Services Technician

Under general direction, transports patients, protects, promotes, and optimizes health and abilities. Prevents illness and injury. Advocates for patients and their families. Under immediate supervision, performs selected and delegated nursing tasks in the care of patients. Ensures all actions taken in carrying out responsibilities support patient centered care. Performs general department cleaning, OR room turn-over cleaning/ decontamination and OR room final cleaning/ decontamination activities. Exhibits and promotes a cooperative team environment.

Unit Specific Position Responsibilities

• Performs and assists with OR supply ordering/stocking in Surgical Services.
• Transports blood products and specimens per hospital procedures and protocols.
• Is knowledgeable of infection control recommendations and guidelines.
• Practices "point of use guidelines" by cleaning and preparing instruments for terminal cleaning.
• Assists with annual Surgical Services inventory.
• Prepares and provides patient transport for pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients.
• Assists in patient positioning to preserve skin integrity, checking with nursing staff and anesthesia to maintain the patient in a position that assures there is adequate padding for nerve preservation.
• Attends to the patient comfort and safety with courtesy.
• Reports problems such as delays, faulty equipment, equipment shortage, etc.
• Identifies structural deficiencies in assigned areas and reports them for correction.
• Transports blood products and specimens per hospital procedures and protocols.
• Cleans and disinfects patient and non-patient care areas. Clean and disinfects all types of body fluids and hazardous waste.
• Retrieves and decontaminates reusable medical equipment between patient uses according to established procedures.
• Removes general/ potentially infectious medical waste and recyclable items to appropriate containers and disposal areas.
• Performs cleaning tasks as assigned to meet the needs of the department.
• Assists in the preparation of the operating room suite, opens sterile supplies to the sterile scrub, obtains needed equipment as designated by OR Nurse or Scrub Technician.
• Performs duties such as connecting/ disconnecting oxygen, monitors, suction, power and light cords outside of the sterile field as directed.
• Clears OR room pass-through, restocks blanket warmers, and restocks supply linen and hall cabinets as needed.
• Checks for expirations of supplies and wrapped equipment in assigned areas.
• Exhibits and promotes a cooperative team spirit.
• Practices "point of use guidelines" by cleaning and preparing instruments for terminal cleaning.
• Responsible for on-call duties as scheduled.
• Assumes responsibility for administering basic life support (BLS) until clinical/medical staff arrives.
• Performs other assigned duties.
• Assist in room turnovers, restocking room at end of shift, and terminal cleaning assigned room (Standard work).
• Complete monthly assigned cleaning and outdates following Standard Work.

Required Qualifications (Including any licensure, certification, education):

• Basic Life Support (BLS) training, or within 90 days of hire and must maintain throughout employment
• Mandatory Reporter training or within 90 days of hire and must maintain throughout employment.

Organizational Requirements:

• Maintain stroke education per regulatory requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of medical terminology
• Patient Care Technician (CNA-Certified Nurse Assistant)
• Highschool diploma or GED

Required Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Ability to understand and communicate oral and written English.
• Ability to pursue and foster a sense of team and partnership across all disciplines.
• Ability to assist nursing personnel with patients.
• Ability to function promptly and appropriately under stressful conditions.
• Ability to consider age, growth and development when providing care.
• Ability to use telephone, PC and pager system.
• Ability to be self-directed, flexible and able to adapt to change.
• Ability to interact and communicate with numerous and diverse customers.
• Ability to communicate effectively in a professional and tactful manner with physicians, staff, patients and/ or their representatives.
• Ability to demonstrate basic computer skills.
• Adherence to departmental and hospital policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of body mechanics and universal/safety precautions.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Skill in the use of patient transport equipment, safe patient handling and/ or techniques.
• Previous related work experience in a health care facility is preferred.