Patient Care Assistant - Operating Room

Summary of Position:

Performs environmental services and sanitation tasks on a daily and as needed basis. Assumes responsibility for providing a clean, safe, pleasant environment for patients and staff in a timely manner while insuring departmental customer service and cleaning standards are maintained for their assigned area. Transports patients and materials. Assists as needed with basic patient preparations.

Primary Job Responsibilities:

Ensures departmental quality standards are maintained utilizing chemicals in accordance with IWA OSHA standards by following proper procedures for cleaning and sanitation. Cleans operating room suites and other restricted areas vertical and horizontal surfaces that collect dust. Cleans tops of windows, doorframes, monitors, and other high places.

Collects, transports, and disposes of municipal waste, regulated medical waste, sharps, and soiled linen in accordance with IAW regulatory requirements.

Re-stock supplies, linens and fill the blanket warmers in the sterile cord as needed. Washes sinks and other plumbing fixtures and replaces supplies, such as paper towels, soaps and toilet paper as needed. Polishes metal or other bright surfaces, cleaning glass and enamel fixtures with proper cleaning chemicals.

Transports patients to and from the operating room area ensuring patient safety. Reports any patient complaints. Assist nursing with transferring patients to and from the operating room bed and moving heavy equipment. Provides for patient safety through preventive measures.

Assist in positioning patients for surgery. Assist with positioning and holding patients extremities during preparation.

Transport specimens to the laboratory.

Practices appropriate hand-washing techniques, adheres to infection control, and isolation procedures.

Minimum Qualifications:

High school diploma, GED or equivalent. Hospital patient care experience preferred.

Required Skills, Abilities and Attributes:

• Ability to organize and establish day-to-day priorities while utilizing critical thinking skills in all aspects of the job.
• Must be able to multitask while remaining professional, focused, composed and positive.
• Excellent customer service skills and must display integrity, friendliness and compassion.
• Must be able to establish an appropriate and effective rapport with others.
• Must be flexible to take initiative and embrace new opportunities to grow both personally and organizationally.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently.
• Ability to recognize and effectively manage personal boundaries and the ability to manage personal responses to patient care situations.
• Uses appropriate resources when responsibilities and/or patient needs are beyond the scope of own knowledge and experience.