Perioperative Assistant

Major Responsibilities:
Provide assistance with supportive clinical tasks as defined by policy and procedure as directed by licensed RN staff & Surgeons
1)Support staff in other department as needed

2)Assist staff with repositioning patient within the clinical areas

3)Relocate equipment within the department/hospital

4)Perform point of care testing following guidelines set by hospital policy

5)Communicates with patient, families and health care team in a competent courteous and professional manner

6)Identifies and transporting patients to and from Surgery.

7)Responds to codes in the OR and PACU.

8)Operates positioning equipment under supervision.

Participates in the preparation of the Operating rooms/Case
1)Removes all case carts from sterile lift and transports to appropriate area of the department. Ensures all equipment is maintained in a clean fashion and returned to its proper storage area

10)Cleans instrument when OR/SPD instrument team is not available

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; report any missing items to the Circulating Nurse for direction and resolution

3)Places linen and trash bags on all case carts

4)Assists nursing personnel with OR set up including setting supplies around the room, gathering additional equipment/supplies, and opening sterile supplies

5)In the event of surgical delays, monitors open sterile fields

6)Retrieves and transports sterilized items from the autoclave/Steris to OR rooms

7)Removes instrumentation/equipment and /or supply items from case carts prior to transport to Sterile Processing. Returns all unused case carts to Sterile Processing

8)Assists nursing personnel in end of case clean up by placing all dirty instrument trays, garbage and suctions on the case cart.

9)Ensures all suction canisters have solidifying agent in them prior to placing on cart

Participates in maintenance of the Surgery Department
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; ensure that all chemicals and solutions are in properly labeled containers

3)Runs biological testing for implants flash autoclaved in the OR. Reports results to appropriate staff

4)Maintains blood refrigerator in sterile ensuring inventory levels and ensures that gauges and keys are available for oxygen tanks

Ensures the Surgery area is appropriately stocked and supplied to meet the needs of the patient and Nursing Staff
1)Transporting deceased to morgue

2)Transporting of equipment/supplies between operating room, PACU, SPD, and other units as directed.

3)Obtain supplies, beds and equipment from other areas of the hospital as needed. .

4)Monitors sterile items on the case carts and notifies Sterile Processing of the need to replace missing items

5)Procure blood, laboratory and pathology reports, radiology films, and other patient related information to the Operating Room.

6)Deliver specimens to laboratory/pathology, as needed both routine and stat.

7)Clean and prepare patient carts and wheelchair between patients’ use following guidelines set by hospital policy and OSHA along with other equipment . Ensures that all work areas are maintained in a clean and orderly fashion at all times

8)Documentation of cleaning equipment on appropriate form i.e. cart cleaning record. Monitoring and informing charge RN when supplies are needed.

9)Stocking and obtaining supplies from inventory store room when needed to the areas of Surgery, Local Rooms, and scrub sinks on a daily basis.

10)Ensures fluids and blankets are placed in warmers and replenished as needed.

Assists with direct patient care under the direction of the Nursing staff
6)Assists nursing personnel in conducting postmortem care and transports deceased patient to the morgue

1)Assists nursing personnel in transferring patients to and form OR tables, beds, wheelchairs, stretchers or carts

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)Assist nursing personnel in the performance of surgical preps by holding affected extremities

5)Performs surgical clipping for surgical patients

Responsibility of professional growth, self-development and objective
1)Demonstrates self-direction for continuing education. Seeks education and learning experiences of identified need

2)Attendance of departmental meeting and in-services on a consistent basis

3)Sets realistic goals and objectives on a yearly basis

4)Participation in orientation of new staff

5)Continue compliance with mandatory education skills set by the hospital

6)Demonstrates self-direction for maintaining skill (literature in-service, experience on the job, interaction with others)

7)Using equipment/resources responsibly

Education/Experience Required:
High School education 6 months – 1 year previous patient care experience in a hospital setting. 1 year surgery experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:
Ability to use computer keyboard Knowledge of medical terminology
CPR

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
Ability to rotate shifts to provide coverage 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.