Sr. Perioperative Nurse Assistant

Overview

At Houston Methodist, the Sr Perioperative Nursing Assistant (PNA) position is responsible for applying proficient knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to communicate appropriately and perform delegated assistant tasks for assigned age-specific, diverse patient population, under the supervision of a licensed nurse. This position assists with the physical preparation of the patient and physical environment prior to a surgical procedure being performed. Other duties for the Sr PNA include independently and expertly performing the duties and responsibilities of preceptor and clinical resource to PNAs, training and orienting others and demonstrates ability to troubleshoot problems and prioritize multiple requests for assistance. This position practices Relationship-Centered care in concert with the values of Houston Methodist.

Houston Methodist Standard

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVEDRefer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

Responsibilities

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promotes a positive work environment that actively assists interprofessional care team to achieve optimal patient and department results. Makes contributions to the work effort by leading and initiating problem resolution within the work unit. Follows channels of communication for effective problem solving. Facilitates teamwork by anticipating the need for assistance and responding positively to requests for assistance, taking the initiative to check on a regular basis if assistance is needed by the team.

• Collaborates with all members of the interprofessional health care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner. Teaches peers to critically think by verbally expressing rationale for decisions and follows up consistently. Facilitates open, professional, communication to achieve mutual understanding, role modeling by example.

• Assists in orientation and training of new PNAs as assigned. Independently executes the duties and responsibilities of preceptor, serves as a clinical resource in the department, using advanced skills and competencies, guiding and mentoring colleagues' though processes to provide optimal patient care. Provides structured feedback with examples.

• Initiates contributions towards improvement of department scores for turnover/retention/employee engagement on unit-based scorecard, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs, independently, assistant-level care to Surgical Services patients within unit specific defined limits. Prepares the physical environment prior to surgical procedure, cleaning the room using prescribed sterile techniques, ensuring the maintenance of a clean and organized environment.

• Organizes the work flow, problem-solves higher level matters, and manages multiple ongoing priorities. Troubleshoot problems and prioritize multiple requests for assistance.

• Transports patients to and from assigned room and assists with the preparation and positioning of the patient prior to surgical procedure. Transports specimens, cultures, blood products, and body fluids to laborator