Operating Room Nursing Assistant Joint Base San Antonio
Time to invest in some new footwear because if you’re San Antonio-bound, you’d better show up in boots! The Alamo City is one of the military’s most envied postings and is often referred to as “Military City USA”. Low cost of living, affordable homes, and the lack of state tax on retirement income are a few financial perks to living and retiring in this Texas city. A robust job market that seems partial to government and defense/security contracting ensures employment opportunities for spouses or transitioning service members. San Antonio is the country’s seventh fastest growing city yet has somehow managed to retain a “small town feel.” Quality schools and friendly locals (most with military ties) are additional perks to living in San Antonio.
Some things you should know before you get here: trucks are the norm (the bigger, the better), love for The Spurs (NBA) runs deep, the H-E-B obsession is real (it’s a grocery store), rodeos are life, and don’t call it “San Antone”—that’s just wrong. The community boasts a vibrant Hispanic population, and enhances everything from the food, to the music, to community events. You don’t necessarily need to speak Spanish to get around, but you’d better know how to say barbacoa, tamales, and cascarones.
Name brand shopping (IKEA is the latest arrival of note), restaurants, and all variety of entertainment all add to San Antonio’s quality of life. SeaWorld, the San Antonio Zoo, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and downtown museums are all fun outings for kids and families. Tube or kayak down a river, play or fish in the lakes, or relax by San Antonio’s famous downtown River Walk. Museums, art galleries, and historical landmarks—remember The Alamo?—round out San Antonio’s cultural offerings. Tex-mex cuisine arguably originated here, and some up and coming culinary trendsetters are making a name for themselves in the Pearl District downtown, alongside several notable breweries.
San Antonio has over 300 days of sunshine with some hot summers, mild winters and pleasant spring and fall seasons. San Antonio is in Bexar County (it’s pronounced “BEAR”) in south central Texas, and is just south of the gorgeous Hill Country. It’s only about two hours from Austin, the beach, or the desert.
Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions.
Responsibilities
MAJOR DUTIES:
The function of the Anesthesia Nursing Assistant is to provide comprehensive patient care and assistance to the multitude of anesthesia demands and requirements, including patient care monitoring, patient transporting, positioning and having the surgical patient prepared for surgical anesthesia. Duties encompasses anesthesia assistant care for the patient undergoing a surgical procedure in the operative suites. The purpose of this position is to perform a variety of tasks in support of the entire anesthesia service. Responsible for the preoperative anesthesiology support of 12 main operating rooms, 2 genitourinary, Pain Clinic, 2 additional operating rooms on the 5th floor and all other ancillary areas where anesthesia is administered throughout the facility, (i.e. cardiac catheterization lab, radiology, special procedures, as well as others areas). Provides a variety of nursing care duties in support of the Anesthesiology Section.
The function of the Anesthesia Nursing Technician is to circulate in the Operating Room during induction, administration, and recovery from anesthesia. Assists anesthesia personnel by handing such items as needles, IV solutions, sterile drugs/supplies, and prep solutions to personnel responsible for administering the anesthesia; observes and recognizes breaks in aseptic techniques; changes anesthetic gas tanks as needed; aids the anesthetist by retrieving additional drugs, supplies and equipment as requested; keeps anesthesia equipment and supplies orderly. Assists anesthetist in nasal pharyngeal suctioning a patient prior to extubation. Helps transfer patient onto recovery room litter. Procures blood, blood gas testing equipment, blood products and laboratory test results in routine and emergency situations upon request from anesthesia personnel. Aids the anesthetist in resuscitation during any emergency crisis in the Operating Room or any hospital location where assistance is needed. Cleans each operating room by removing contaminated supplies, cleaning equipment, following infection control guidelines, replacing all anesthesia supplies, suction canisters, tubing, reconnecting and testing equipment, and troubleshooting or repairing any equipment rendered unserviceable. Ensures that anesthetic agent levels are adequate to perform general anesthesia on patients. Prepares, replaces and modifies equipment setup without the availability of procedural text to meet special request from anesthesia providers. Performs daily calibrations; periodic Quality Controls on all point of care laboratory equipment and records values as needed. Maintains and prepares the point of care laboratory test machine. The anesthesia nursing technician assists the anesthesia provider in the placement of special catheters, central lines and special swan ganz catheters. Transports patients from the pre-op area to the operating suit, applies all necessary monitoring systems (ECG, SP02, NIBP, and any other specialized monitoring system) needed for adequate patient care, during the surgical procedure. Rotates continuously through each operating room and surgical units insuring the anesthesia provider has all necessary equipment and supplies to perform anesthesia needed for adequate safe patient care. Setup, prepares the Rapid Infusion System, used to infuse blood, crystalloid, and colloid solutions for use in emergency and trauma procedures. Performs a vast amount of logistical support during trauma, pediatric, and emergency procedures anticipating the special needs of the anesthesia provider. Insures all anesthesia equipment, monitors and carts are prepared, stocked and ready for use in MRI unit.
Cleans and decontaminates anesthesia gas machines on a rotating basis as required by infection control guidelines and/or determined by Chief of Nursing Anesthesia and/or Lead Anesthesia Technician. Cleans and decontaminates equipment used in anesthesiology procedures and returns equipment to storage areas. Cleans electronic monitoring and temperature control equipment. Washes and decontaminates non-disposable anesthesia items, such as, but limited to laryngoscope blades, connectors, and probes. Performs monthly monitoring for anesthetic agent leaks in the delivery system and reports any unsatisfactory results, malfunctions of equipment or systems to the operating room, medical maintenance and facility engineers for repair. Collects used non-disposable anesthesia equipment from operating rooms, as needed for cleaning and decontamination procedures. Returns all anesthesia equipment and supplies to their proper storage location. Keeps anesthesia workroom neat, orderly, free of congestion and all equipment is placed in its proper place. Police all trash and disposables and discard as needed. Polices up all unneeded equipment not being used and return equipment to the anesthesia equipment room. Insures the anesthesia equipment room is kept neat and orderly at all times.
Checks drug and supply cabinets to assure routine quantities are on hand; orders drugs as necessary to maintain required stock levels. Maintains adequate levels of all bulk ACLS, regional anesthesia drugs by preparing and submitting electronic drug order. Obtains from blood bank, blood and blood products for daily surgical scheduled procedures every morning and returns unused blood and blood products to the blood bank every evening before leaving. Checks daily surgical schedule ensuring that all blood requirements have been met and proper request have been prepared. Keeps records of daily temperatures of the operating room blood bank and drug refrigerators.
Assists with patient positioning for therapeutic blocks, regional anesthesia and assist with the administration of local anesthesia. Observes patients for such changes in condition as labored breathing, cyanosis, apnea, nausea, and anxiety; when such condition occur, contacts the doctor or nurse as deemed necessary. Checks patients to assure that such personal effects as jewelry, dentures, and lipstick have been removed. Assists anesthesia personnel to position patients on operating room table for supine, lateral, and prone surgical procedures.
Assists in the anesthesia resident training program of professionals by providing on-the-job instruction and orientation regarding anesthesia equipment, cleaning procedures and handling of specialized equipment for anesthesia service requirements.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Basic Requirements:
US Citizenship required
This is a drug test designated position.
Position requires a pre-employment physical.
Position requires rotating shifts, weekend and holiday work.
Position has a mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination.
Position requires a child care background investigation.
Position requires immunization screening.
Position requires a current BLS and/or ACLS certification.
Position requires prolonged periods of standing, stooping, and moderate lifting up to 40 pounds.
Notes:
* This position is subject to drug testing if the incumbent:
Has direct patient contact or performs diagnostic or therapeutic functions
Extracts or works with patients' body fluids or tissues; prepares patient specimens for examination, performs specialized or non-routine tests on body fluids or tissue samples, or confirms patients' test results
Maintains, stores, safeguards, inputs, fills or distributes drugs and medicines
This position has a mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination requirement and is therefore subject to annual seasonal influenza vaccinations. Applicants tentatively selected for appointment to this position will be required to sign a statement (Condition of Employment) consenting to seasonal influenza vaccinations.