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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?

Summary:

Provides supportive nursing care to selected patients under direction and supervision of the professional nurse; facilitates patient care by meeting specific nursing care requirements and assists in performance of patient care measures; informs the registered nurse of any signs, symptoms of untoward responses.

Responsibilities:

Need for environmental safety, comfort. Identifies patient according to HUP Policy before carrying out functions. Carries out HUP fire and safety regulations. Promotes infection control: ▪ Washes hands before and after patient contact. ▪ Carries out isolation procedures according to Infection Control Manual. Deals with blood and body fluids according to the standard precautions policy. ▪ Reports needle stick injuries to charge nurse. ▪ Reports exposure to communicable diseases and infections. Clinical Aseptic Technique Demonstrates principles of aseptic technique in clinical practice. Follows aseptic technique when opening sterile supplies. Sterilizes instruments and supplies in autoclaves as directed by Perioperative policies. Follows department policy on scrubbing, setup, gowning and gloving. Observes and verbalizes contamination and/or breaks in aseptic technique. Drapes the patient with sterile materials with little or no direction. Demonstrates proper handling of implants and prosthesis. Demonstrates the ability to differentiate between clean and dirty areas i.e. Endoscopy Unit. Follows proper procedure for handling contaminated instruments after procedure i.e. cleans case cart after removing instruments. Uses appropriate instrument tables for each case i.e. back and side tables. Professionalism As needed, maintain supplies such as IV fluids, needles and syringes Demonstrates awareness of legal responsibilities regarding instrument, needles and sponge counts. Follows policy for case with incorrect counts, reports and documents discrepancies appropriately. Counts and signs items as dictated per OR count policies. Follows safe practice when drugs and solutions are placed on the sterile field. Labels all drugs and solutions properly. Assist in the proper labeling, handling of all surgical specimens. Utilizes policies and procedures as a resource Routinely attends clinic and Perioperative in-service programs. Follows Perioperative Call Policy. Attends at least two related conference/course or completes 12 continuing education units every year. Member of a professional organization. Current CPR. Collaboration Demonstrates the ability to facilitate each case progression in a timely manner. Usually does not need additional help but knows when to seek help. Anticipates the surgeon’s need when passing instruments, sutures, and supplies. Provides relief staff with accurate report i.e. medications, specimens, and relief counts. Willingly adapts when there are schedule changes. Expedites surgery by scrubbing and setting up supplies in a timely manner i.e. prepping, draping. Anticipates the needs of the surgeon in order to expedite the surgical procedure. Technical Skills Modifies scrubbing procedures based on patient’s individual needs. Communicates with team members for special care needs. Incorporates pertinent patient care information into scrubbing role. Recognizes pertinent patient care information that requires modifying standard approach to care i.e. needing larger retractors. Demonstrates knowledge and responds appropriately to emergency situations. Expert knowledge in one surgical service, independent in four, regularly rotates. Initiative Makes professional use of downtime: stocking suture, returning unused supplies. Maintains responsibility for specialty area and is held accountable for that specific area. Consistently and willingly acts as team player i.e. assist RN with patient care. Helps gather needed supplies for procedure i.e. positioning devices, instrumentation, and scopes. Problem Solving Identifies, isolates, and reports defective instruments, supplies and equipment. Maintains a safe environment through inspection of facilities by applying safety rules. Inventories, receives, and stores supplies under the direction of Nurse Manager. Inventories instrument sets and recommends necessary changes to Nurse Manager. Makes recommendations for updates to pick-list as necessary. Completes Perioperative core and specialty team competencies. Assist with 1 major project within the operating room every year. Communication Demonstrates active communication skills Respects patient’s rights to privacy, safety and dignity i.e. HIPPA. Demonstrates professional attitudes and behaviors. Demonstrates effective strategies to manage stress and resolve conflict. Appropriately accept constructive criticism appropriately. Teaching/Preceptorship Identifies and communicates educational needs. Seeks supervision of performance when appropriate. Shares knowledge gained through participation in continuing education activities. Actively seeks information from other personnel and written aids when unfamiliar/uncomfortable with assigned procedure. Serves as a preceptor to ST I and ST II Acts as a resource in his/her specialty. Participates in teaching, guiding, and evaluating the performance of other personnel. Offers feedback in a spirit of helpfulness with respect for peers. Assesses unit wide learning needs and participates in planning activities to meet those needs. Acts as a preceptor for students. Is positive role model. Attends Operating Room preceptor course. Values Respects patient’s rights to privacy, safety and dignity. Maintains patient confidentiality. Begins to seek available resources to help with ethical issues i.e. translator, Pastoral Care. Leadership Demonstrates teamwork by assisting other team members in activities as room cleaning, turnover, case set-up, patient transport, instrument cleaning etc. in a timely manner. Demonstrates and willingly accepts assignment changes. Demonstrates cost control by efficient use of patient and unit supplies. Carries out daily assignment independently. Gives at least 1 in-service to OR staff every year. Provides an educational program at clinic meeting related to their specialty area. Assist lower levels with promotion. Participates in professional organization. Continuous Quality Improvement Identifies, reports and solves practice problems. INITIATIVE, JUDGMENT, AND CREATIVE ABILITY: Make observations-plan and organize work, assess patient needs under the supervision of registered nurse. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Keeps appropriate levels of supplies on unit. Participates in unit cost containment efforts.

Credentials:

+ Certified Surgical Technologist (Required)

+ Basic Cardiac Life Support

Education or Equivalent Experience:

+ H.S. Diploma/GED (Required)

+ And Possess three years of continuous recent surgical technologist experience. Education Specialization:

+ Other (Required)

+ Graduate of a Surgical Technologist training program or practical nurse program Education Specialization:

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 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: 269757