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Job Title
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Patient Assistant/ Surgical Orderly
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Job Description
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Provide support to surgeons performing operations/procedures in a sterile environment. Acts as an advocate for the patient and maintains safety, confidentiality, and dignity of the patient at all times.
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Working Conditions
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- Primarily operating room setting. Frequent contact with diverse individuals.
- Exposure to blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, radiation, and repetitive motions.
- Physically demanding, high-stress environment.
- Variety of standing, walking, lifting, bending, stooping, twisting.
- Must be able to stand 6-8 hours/day.
- Hand and eye coordination.
- Manual and finger dexterity.
- Corrected vision and hearing to within normal range.
- Pushing and pulling heavy objects.
- Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds.
- This description is intended to provide only basic guidelines for meeting job requirements. Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions may change as needs evolve.
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Job Responsibilities
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- Supports the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
- Follows established protocols to maintain a clean, safe environment for patients, personnel, and visitors.
- Demonstrates current competencies applicable to the position.
- Organizes and prioritize tasks efficiently.
- Develops an individualized perioperative patient plan of care.
- Implement the plan of care by:
- protecting the patient from injury caused by extraneous objects and chemical, electrical, laser, mechanical, and thermal sources;
- performing accounting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items;
- performing interventions necessary to ensure that the patient’s procedure is performed on the correct site, side, and level;
- managing the patient’s specimens according to organizational policy and procedures;
- communicating the patient’s current status to relevant parties throughout the continuum of care;
- administering medications safely and correctly;
- performing interventions to maintain the patient’s wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels;
- performing interventions to maintain the status of the patient’s genitourinary, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, endocrine, respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological systems and fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balances at or above baseline levels;
- performing interventions to ensure the patient is at or returned to normothermia at the conclusion of the immediate postoperative period;
- performing interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection;
- assessing the knowledge level of the patient or designated support person;
- providing education regarding the expected psychosocial response, nutritional management, medication management, pain management, wound management, and expected responses to the operative or invasive procedure;
- involving the patient or designated support person actively in decisions affecting his or her perioperative plan of care and the rehabilitation process;
- protecting the patient’s rights, dignity, and privacy;
- providing age-specific, culturally competent, ethical care within legal standards of practice; and
- providing consistent and comparable care regardless of the setting.
- Evaluates the patient’s progress toward attaining outcomes.
- Transfers care as applicable.
- Delegates tasks according to the state Nurse Practice Act and job descriptions.
- Documents nursing care accurately, completely, and legibly.
- Collaborates effectively with other disciplines as applicable.
- Participates in quality review and performance improvement projects.
- Participates in the performance appraisal process.
- Uses problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to foster effective work relationships with team members.
- Maintains required competencies.
- Pursues professional growth and participates in a professional organization.
- Acts as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information.
- Interacts effectively with physicians, nurses, other health care professionals, and patients.
- Communicates pertinent information and suggestions to team leader.
- Prioritizes tasks by importance and demand.
- Follows employee handbook guidelines in regard to sick time, vacation, and dress code.
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Required Skills
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- Excellent customer service skills
- Strong skills in communicating effectively with co-workers, providers, and patients.
- Ability to conduct daily functions in an appropriate, professional, and compassionate manner.
- Ability to manage/prioritize multiple tasks in an efficient and timely manner.
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Education/Experience Requirements
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- Must be a graduate from an accredited school of nursing with a current Tennessee nursing license.
- Basic Life Support certified required; ACLS & PALS recommended.
- Previous experience in an OR setting (1 year minimum) recommended.
- Must be in overall good health with satisfactory hearing and eyesight; must be able to bend, reach and lift 50 lbs. using good body mechanics.
- Knowledge of OSHA guidelines.
- Must be able to work forty (40) hours per week and overtime as deemed necessary by the supervisor.
- Must be self-motivated, professional and maintain a positive attitude.
- Must have good verbal and written communication skills.
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MMC Vision, Mission, and Values
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Our vision is to be a leading contributor to community health through participation in programs that promote wellness, facilitate diagnosis, and enhance treatment of disease.
Our mission is to foster continuous improvement in community health through the delivery of quality, accessible medical and surgical care in a cost-effective manner to the residents of Middle Tennessee.
Our values guide our actions as we strive to carry out our mission.
- A progressive approach to advances in medicine and changes in the health care delivery system
- Responsive to patient and community needs
- Collaborative with other physicians, hospitals, allied health providers and the community in improving health care.
- Professional, ethical, and socially responsible
- Team-oriented management and leadership
- A positive, open, and responsive work setting
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