"Alerted.org

Description

Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines.

Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day. Are you living your life's work?

Full Time Surgical Care Assistant II

Summary:

+ Provides patient care under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse. Performs duties that support the operation of the nursing unit. Adheres to Nursing Policies and Procedures and Organizational Goals and Objectives. Maintains a sterile field and maintains surgical exposure by utilizing retractor instrumentation at the direction of the surgeon and physician assistant. Provides excellent customer service skills to surgical patients and their families. Assumes responsibility for providing safe and efficient transportation of the surgical patient. Provides support service to the surgical team with environmental cleaning, supply & equipment procurement. Assists with positioning and skin preps of the surgical patients. Delivers specimens to the pathology department or the lab-receiving desk. Under the direction of an anesthesia provider, supports the anesthesia staff.

Responsibilities:

+ Provides age appropriate care for the patient population served. For example, gives consideration to growth & developmental phase of life, to age related factors such as thermal regulation, nutrition, safety and functional needs of the patient.Utilize principles of good body mechanics when lifting/moving/transporting patients and equipment.Identification of patient utilizing the appropriate identifiers involving the patient and matching information with the ID band and chart. The surgical procedure and surgical site is verified.Performs scrubbing duties adhering to recommended standards.Maintains confidentiality related to patient, family and staff.Provides care in a manner that is sensitive to diversity, preserving the patient’s autonomyDemonstrates the ability to act as the patient advocate and provides for the patient’s needs (both communicated and uncommunicated).Demonstrates knowledge and safe practice within AORN standards and hospital policy and procedure protocols.Demonstrates the ability to be flexible and perform a variety of duties under quickly changing circumstances.Accepts flexibility in schedules to best serve the department and in the resolution of staffing conflicts. Participating in temporary assignment measures as requested.Participates in and supports the quality assessment and improvement program.Assists other team members to facilitate successful operation of the unit.Observes and reports any unusual situation, reactions, effects or conditions related to the patient’s health and welfare, in a timely manner.Reviews operating room schedule to determine the daily needs of the unit (i.e. room turnover, patient transfers, errands, equipment, etc.)Assists in positioning, lifting, and/or transferring patient to and from stretcher/bed/recliner as directed.Assists the team with room turnover.Uses appropriate resources for patients with special needs such as language barriers, sensory problems, altered cognition, cultural and religious needs.Integrates principles of infection control & infection prevention into practice.Uses standard precautions and uses personal protective equipment.Washes hands in accordance with Infection Prevention Standards.Terminally cleans special equipment items (i.e. spinal frames, tourniquets, positioning devices, etc.).Reports and broken, malfunctioning or missing equipment to STL/Manager and per policy.Communicates effectively with OR Charge Nurse, Specialty Team Leads, Surgeon, PAs and other perioperative team members.Readily locates emergency equipment.Obtains necessary equipment, sterile supplies, and positioning aids for scheduled cases based on the OR schedule.Assists in setting up and performance of cases by assembly of equipment and supplies according to physician preference cards.Understands function and setup of equipment and assembles as needed.Assists with positioning patients for both anesthesia and surgical positioning, as directed.Assists in draping the surgical patient maintaining the integrity of the sterile field.Assists the surgical team in preparing the patient for surgery, positioning the patient in a safe manner, and moving the patient to and from the operating table.Handles counted items according to hospital policy.Handles specimens, cultures and blood/blood products according to hospital protocol.Handles instrumentation and equipment in a safe manner.Ongoing observation of surgical team in order to promote infection control activities and to take corrective actions when needed to maintain aseptic technique.Remaining up-to-date with evidence based practice, inservicing new equipment and procedures, and taking an active role in Quality Measures.Accepts accountability for actions and takes initiative in obtaining needed education in areas of deficiency.Accepts responsibility in additional departmental assignments.Interacts with the patient in a manner that preserves patient dignity, privacy, and meets psychosocial needs of the patient.Positions patients correctly, aligns and supports torso and limbs as directed and per patient comfort.Transports patients via stretcher or wheelchair using safety measures appropriate for patient and vehicle.Anticipates the need for equipment and supplies during the day, acquires the equipment for cases and decontaminates and stores equipment post operatively.Assists nursing staff with proper setup of patient care equipment, i.e. video carts, fracture table, shoulder equipment, urology table, etc.Assists circulating nurse with positioning and /or prepping of patient.Delivers the specimens to the designated lab areas in the required time frame.Follows established protocols for between case cleaning and decontamination of OR’s. Maintains clean, neat adjoining areas of the OR suite, i.e. sub-sterile room, storage areas and lounges.Verifies/stocks warmers with solutions and blankets.Proper handling, documentation and transport of surgical specimens to the Laboratory in accordance the Specimen Handling Policy and Procedures.Checks daily par levels of scrub brushes, masks, protective eyewear, mops, cleaning supplies, trash bags etc. Restocks as needed.Monitors and corrects areas of potential hazards, i.e., wet floors around scrub sinks, etc.Performs end of day cleaning to furniture, lights and patient care equipment.Uses resources and references for reviewing policies and procedures, information needed to complete job duties.Prioritizes and organizes work effectively within assigned shift.Performs procedures within the scope of the Policy and Procedure Manual.

Credentials:

+ (Required)

+ Basic Cardiac Life Support (Required)

Education or Equivalent Experience:

+ H.S. Diploma/GED (Required)

+ Education Specialization:Equivalent Experience:

We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.

Live Your Life's Work

We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.

REQNUMBER: 267202