Perioperative Assistant

Major Responsibilities:

• Assists with direct patient care under the direction of the Nursing Staff
  • 1)Assists nursing personnel in transferring patients to and or from OR tables, beds, wheelchairs, stretchers or carts.
  • 7)Assists nursing personnel in conducting postmortem care and transports deceased patient to the morgue
  • 8)Attends respiratory and cardiac codes and assists physicians, anesthesia, and nurses as needed with patient care
  • 9)Transports all patients from units and hope (ER, SVTU, ASHU, SINI, MICCU, PICU, SCN, ect)
  • 10)Gathers all necessary items for transportation of the patient by the nurse post operatively to the unit or PACU under the direction of the nurse. (ie oxygen tanks, monitors, masks, ambu bags, ect)
  • 2)Assists nursing personnel in the positioning and maintenance of patient safety
  • 3)Assists with regional anesthesia by holding the patient in position for spinal/epidural blocks
  • 4)Assists nursing personnel in the performance of surgical preps by holding affected extremities
  • 5)Performs surgical shaves for surgery patients
  • 6)Answers phones and communicates information to the Operating Room staff when necessary
• Ensures the Surgery area is appropriately stocked and supplied to meet the needs of the patient and Nursing staff.
  • 1)Restocks all sterile supply areas in Surgery not par stocked by Materials Management. Rotates items as needed when restocking
  • 2)Maintains supply carts in all areas in an orderly manner
  • 3)Cleans supply carts as directed by the point person or ACM
  • 4)Ensures fluids and blankets are placed in warmers, marks containers with the expiration date, and replenished as needed.
  • 5)Ensures Operating Rooms are fully stocked on a daily basis and as needed
  • 6)Fills and stores specimen containers in the sterile core
  • 7)Monitors sterile items on the tickie carts and notifies Sterile Processing of the need to replace missing items
  • 8)Returns trays to storage areas in core from Sterile Processing
  • 9)Maintains stock of forms as needed in the sterile core and Holding Room areas
  • 10)Ensures all work areas are maintained in a clean and orderly fashion at all times.
• Participates in the preparation of the Operating Rooms/Case Carts
  • 1)Removes all case carts from sterile core lift and transports to appropriate area of the sterile core
  • 2)Reviews the surgeon preference cards and ensures all items/equipment needed for the procedure and positioning of the patient are present. Attempts to rectify deficiencies; reports any missing items to the Circulating Nurse for direction and resolution.
  • 3)Assists nursing personnel with OR room set-up including setting supplies around the room, gathering additional equipment/ supplies, and opening sterile supplies utilizing aseptic technique.
  • 4)In the event of surgical delays, monitors open sterile fields.
  • 9)Returns all sterile supplies to Sterile Processing or sterile core area as indicated. 3.11 Returns all unused case carts to Sterile Processing. 3.12 Ensures all equipment is maintained in a clean fashion and returned to its proper storage area.
  • 5)Operates autoclaves; assists nursing personnel in the retrieval and transport of sterilized items from the autoclave to OR rooms.
  • 6)Removes instrumentation/equipment and/or supply items from case carts prior to transport to Sterile Processing.
  • 7)Assists nursing personnel in end of case clean-up by placing all dirty instrument trays, garbage and suctions on the case cart. Transports case carts from the Operating Room to the dirty utility room.
  • 8)Ensures all suction canisters have solidifying agent in them prior to placing on cart.
• Transports patients, supplies, and equipment safely to and from the Operating Rooms
  • 5)Obtains beds and returns beds from all PCCs
  • 6)Ensures carts used for transporting patients are complete, available and ready for use. Cleans carts as needed
  • 7)Transports surgical specimens including frozen sections to Pathology
  • 8)Obtains morgue cart and returns as indicated.
  • 1)Delivers surgery equipment to Patient Care Centers
  • 2)Transports blood products, Laboratory and Pathology reports, Radiology films, and other patient related information to the Operating Rooms and or to the specified area. Logs in blood into blood refrigerator log book. Logs in specimens into the pathology log book in surgery.
  • 3)Delivers supply items and equipment within Surgery
  • 4)Obtains supplies and equipment from other areas of the hospital as needed
• Participates in maintenance of the Surgery Department
  • 8)Runs routine biological testing of all autoclaves on the weekends.
  • 9)Maintains blood refrigerator in sterile core and communicates ensuring with nursing personnel or charge RN when blood products have not been returned to the Blood Bank within 24 hours.
  • 10)Maintains inventory of CO2 gas tanks ensuring inventory levels and ensures that gauges and keys are available for oxygen tanks. 5.11 Monitors and records temperature for liquid nitrogen freezer on the weekends.
  • 1)Conducts between case room cleaning to include cleaning and disinfecting of OR tables, floors, equipment etc. Makes the OR bed with clean linen in accordance with department procedures.
  • 2)Uses appropriate germicide in disinfecting rooms. Handles chemicals and solutions following department policy; ensures that all chemicals and solutions are in properly labeled containers.
  • 3)Maintains cleanliness of hallways, lounges, rest rooms, locker rooms, and other areas of the operating room including sterile and dirty lifts. Gathers and disposes of trash and other waste materials. Replenishes areas with supplies of soap, paper towels, toilet tissue etc. Stocks scrub sink area with scrub brushes and masks.
  • 4)Performs point of care testing (GEM ABGs) as needed.
  • 5)Monitors and records temperature of sterile core refrigerators.
  • 6)Maintains and files autoclave records for the department.
  • 7)Runs biological testing for implants flash autoclaved in the OR. Reports results to appropriate staff.
• Promotes effective interpersonal and interdisciplinary relationships, maintaining professional conduct at all times
  • 1)Demonstrates ability to identify and resolve interpersonal conflicts constructively when dealing with members of the organization
  • 2)Demonstrates a positive, supportive attitude to patients, families and other personnel in emergency and nonemergency situations
  • 3)Contributes to the physician, patient, and associate satisfaction scores
• Assists in enhancing the productivity and efficiency of the department
  • 1)Exhibits timely, satisfactory completion of all assignments
  • 2)Maintains established departmental policies and procedures, Standard Precautions, safety and infection control standards.
  • 3)Exercises initiative, seeking additional tasks from supervisor or other staff members when time permits.
  • 4)Assists in the ability of the OR team to reach its turnaround times and on time starts.
• Demonstrates commitment to professional growth
  • 1)Attends departmental meetings and inservices on a consistent basis
  • 2)Sets realistic goals and objectives on a yearly basis. Reviews progress with supervisor
  • 3)Seeks education and learning experiences in areas of identified need
  • 4)Participates in the orientation of new staff

Education/Experience Required:

• High School dipolma or equivalent. Certified Nursing Assistant, EMT or Certified Phlebotomist w/1-2 years experience or 1-2 years related patient care experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Ability to use computer keyboard Knowledge of medical terminology
• CPR

Physicial Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Ability to successfully complete hospital-based training for Perioperative Assistant Ability to rotate shifts to provide coverage Willing to be called off based on unit demands Exposure to various contagious disease, radiation, chemical, caustic materials, electrical equipment and hazards associated with their use Ability to perform heavy lifting in accordance with DOL definition, bending, squatting, standing for prolonged periods and reaching overhead. Ability to handle multiple requests for assistance and to work in a fast paced stressful environment
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.