Perioperative Care Specialist

This position performs preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative support activities to assist the nursing team caring for surgical/procedural patients. Responsibilities may include total care within scope of practice (stable patient’s vital signs, activities of daily living, promotion of comfort) and the performance of point-of-care tests. Reports changes in patient’s condition to an RN. Includes assisting personnel in obtaining supplies, instruments, and equipment for surgical/procedural cases.

Responsibilities

• Utilizes appropriate aseptic technique to open sterile supplies for patient use or for sterile field; performs shave preps; and holds extremities during surgical or procedural preps.
• Cleans and prepares work area for next patient and shift.
• Transports patients to and from various areas and cleans transport devices.
• Assists with patient transfers and positioning.
• Retrieves and cleans patient care equipment; runs errands as directed in a timely manner.
• Reviews stocking lists, preference cards, and supply carts to ensure supplies, instruments, and equipment are available for patient care.
• Assists in the maintenance of an effective inventory control system, including daily stocking, checking for outdates, and monitoring supply levels.
• Places or returns supplies, instrumentation, and equipment to designated storage locations.
• Maintains a clean, sanitary, and safe work environment in procedural areas and SPD, including organization, cleaning, and post-case cleaning.
• Processes instruments and scopes as needed; prepares cleaning solutions for decontamination.
• Operates processing and cleaning equipment (e.g., washer/sterilizer, immediate use sterilizer) following established policies.
• Documents cleaning tasks in designated log books; wraps instruments and supplies for sterilization with appropriate labeling.
• Obtains and records patient vitals (weight, temperature, pulse, respirations, BP, intakes/outputs, abdominal girths) as directed by nursing staff.
• Transports specimens and records delivery to lab; adds fixative to specimens when needed.
• Provides respiratory support by setting up oxygen administration equipment, including changing tank regulators and checking tank volumes.
• Follows all departmental policies and procedures, including reporting equipment/room repairs in a timely manner.
• Assists in routine unit operations to ensure smooth communication and functioning of the unit.
• Relays accurate telephone, visitor, patient, and healthcare provider messages to appropriate persons.
• Transports linens, trash, and biohazardous materials according to established policies while wearing PPE.
• Assists with room or bay set-up; may monitor sterile field set-up when directed by a registered nurse.
• Performs minor clerical duties, such as answering telephones.
• Transports non-narcotic medications when directed by a registered nurse; may transport patients with PCA/Epidural pumps.
• Cleans autoclaves, washers, cart washers, dryers, shelving, and other equipment in Sterile Processing and Operating Room/Procedural Areas.
• Processes instruments between cases (wash and sterilize by heat or cold sterilization) as needed.
• Maintains orderliness and cleanliness of equipment and supplies in designated areas.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Obtain certification in Basic Life Support or HeartSaver First Aid within 30 days of hire.
• Successful completion of departmental clinical support or PCS orientation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior patient care experience.
• CNA or MA experience.

Skills and Abilities

• Understands and practices excellent personal hygiene.
• Able to operate computer programs with training.
• Proficient in reading and writing English; ability to follow written and verbal directions.
• Demonstrates team-building communication and work efforts to assist healthcare providers.
• Demonstrates skills needed to utilize Safe Patient Handling equipment.

Physical Requirements

• Physically capable of prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• No known history of malignant hyperthermia (may not be waived).
• Capable of lifting up to 60 pounds and pushing heavy loaded carts weighing more than 200 pounds.
• Able to transport patients on stretchers, in wheelchairs, or in cribs.
• Able to discern and distinguish colors for point-of-care testing and inventory monitoring.
• Possesses visual and hearing acuity along with manual dexterity and technical ability.
• Demonstrates ability to utilize PPE.

Working Environment

• Work is completed in a direct patient care environment.
• Work area supports activities of multiple providers performing parallel processing.
• Able to work in a high-stress environment.
• Exposed to communicable diseases, body fluids, and chemicals.

Schedule

Scheduled weekly hours: 40. Shift: Varied.

Training and orientation will be required at Ruby Memorial Hospital. This role will work in all areas of Surgical Services, including Pre-op, Operating Rooms, PACU, Phase II Recovery, and Endoscopy.