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2W OR PCA

WVU Medicine, Morgantown, WV, United States


Performs nonprofessional direct and indirect care activities under the supervision of a professional Registered Nurse. Assists in the provision of high quality, cost-effective care by performing delegated tasks. Performs preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative support activities to assist the nursing team caring for surgical/procedural patients which may include total care within the scope of practice (stable patient’s vital signs, activities of daily living) and the performance of point of care testing. This unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) role has limited access to medications including the transport of non-controlled substances at the request of a licensed care provider. May perform support activities to assist the Sterile Processing team within the assigned specialty/service.

Minimum Qualifications

High School diploma or equivalent required.

Successful completion of departmental clinical support or PCA orientation.

Obtain certification in Basic Life Support or HeartSaver First Aid within 30 days of hire date.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior patient care experience.

CNA or MA experience.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative support activities to assist the nursing team caring for surgical/procedural patients including total care within scope of practice (stable patient’s vital signs, activities of daily living, promotion of comfort) and point of care tests. Reports changes in patient’s condition to a RN. Assists personnel in obtaining supplies, instruments, and equipment for surgical/procedural cases.

Utilizes appropriate aseptic technique to open sterile supplies for patient use or for sterile field; performs shave preps; holds extremities during surgical or procedural preps. Cleans and prepares work area for next patient and shift.

Transports patients to and from various areas. 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 and acquire supplies, instruments, and equipment for patient care use. Assists in maintaining inventory control system.

Maintains effective inventory control system including daily stocking, checks for outdates (includes removal, discard, or reprocessing following established guidelines), and monitoring level of supplies. Places or returns supplies, instrumentation, and equipment to designated storage locations. Places unused sterile instrumentation and soft goods back in the appropriate location when being returned from Perioperative Services, HVI, or Children’s Hospital.

Assists in maintaining a clean, sanitary, and safe work environment in procedural areas and SPD through the maintenance of egress corridors by monitoring halls keeping them free of extra equipment allowing for easy equipment transportation; organization and cleaning of work areas, storerooms, patient bays, computers, and monitors; performance of post-case/post-care cleaning following established policies; performance of terminal and isolation cleaning if necessary implementing daily/weekly cleaning of mobile fluid-waste equipment; cleaning and stocking of scrub sinks/housekeeping carts; weekly warmer cleaning with logged documentation; and cleaning of autoclaves as assigned.

Processes instruments/scopes when requested as the need arises. Prepares various cleaning solutions used in the decontamination of instruments, equipment, and rooms. Operates processing and cleaning equipment (i.e., washer/sterilizer or immediate use sterilizer known as IUS, and other cleaning apparatus in OR, Sterile Processing, and other designated areas) following established policies. Documents completion of cleaning tasks in designated log books.

Wraps instruments and supplies for sterilization labeling appropriately with color appropriate labels. May be assigned the task of preparing/processing OR linen and sterile packs.

Documents appropriately to support department work, including obtaining and recording patient weight, temperature, pulse, respirations, BP, intakes/outputs, and abdominal girths as directed by nursing staff.

Transports specimens and records specimen delivery to lab or in designated log books. Adds fixative to specimens when needed.

Provides respiratory support by properly setting up equipment needed for oxygen administration, including the changing of tank regulators and checking tank volumes.

Follows all departmental policies and procedures including reporting equipment/room repairs to appropriate persons promptly. Performs tagging of equipment and puts in Biomed ticket for repair.

Assists in routine unit operations as directed to ensure smooth communication and functioning of the unit. Relays accurate telephone, visitor, patient, and healthcare provider messages to appropriate persons promptly.

Transports linens, trash, and biohazardous case carts/materials according to established policies wearing PPE and ensuring correct signage is in place before transport.

Assists with room or bay set-up. May monitor sterile field set-up when directed by registered nurse.

Assists team by performing tasks such as answering telephone and minor clerical duties in designated area.

Transports non-narcotic medications when directed by registered nurse. PCA may transport patient with a PCA/Epidural pump.

Cleans autoclaves in Sterile Processing and Operating Room/Procedural Areas. Cleans and organizes Sterile Processing areas as assigned. Cleans washers, cart washer, dryers, shelving, and other equipment as assigned in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendation and departmental policy.

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. Monitors halls keeping them free of extra equipment allowing for easy equipment transportation.

Physical Requirements

Must be physically capable of prolonged periods of standing and walking.

No known history or malignant hyperthermia (may not be waived).

Must be 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.

Must be able to discern and distinguish colors for point of care testing and inventory monitoring.

Must possess visual and hearing acuity along with manual dexterity and technical ability.

Demonstrates ability to utilize PPE.

Working Environment

Work is completed in direct patient care environment.

Work area supports activities of multiple providers performing parallel processing.

Must be able to work in a high stress environment.

Exposed to communicable diseases, body fluids, and chemicals.

Skills and Abilities

Must understand and practice excellent personal hygiene.

Must be able to operate computer program with training.

Must have ability to follow directions both written and verbal (proficient reading and writing in English) and work with people.

Demonstrates team‑building communication and work effort to assist healthcare providers.

Demonstrates skills needed to utilize Safe Patient Handling equipment.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

32

Shift:

Varied (United States of America)

Exempt/Non-Exempt:

Non-Exempt (United States of America)

Company:

WVUH West Virginia University Hospitals

Cost Center:

746 WVUH Surgery 2 West

Address:

1 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, West Virginia

Equal Opportunity Employer:

West Virginia University Health System and its subsidiaries (collectively "WVUHS") is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. WVUHS strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. All WVUHS employees, other workers, and representatives are prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.

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