My experience in healthcare environmental services started about 10 years ago as a part-time (PRN) employee at Pella Regional Health Center. After a few months a position opened up on the 2nd shift (230p-1100p). My duties included cleaning floors and cleaning some non-patient areas.
After a few years I moved to the third shift (600p-230a). I cleaned the first floor of our clinic (12 providers) and continued doing floor work. At this time we were beginning the switch over to Teknoflor, which made my job a little bit easier.
After a few years on third shift I made the move to first shift. I was able to expand my work knowledge while I did daily cleans of occupied rooms and cleaning discharge rooms, along with a scheduled rotation throughout the hospital. I also had the opportunity to work in our off-site facilities.
Within a few months the first shift supervisor retired, and I had the confidence in my knowledge of the facilities to apply. After a peer interview and a lot of waiting my manager offered me the job, which I accepted.
Since then, I have been the supervisor for our 12-person first shift team. I have been able to identify our strong areas and our weak areas. I feel that joining AHE will help in addressing some of those weak areas, along with those challenges that get delegated to me.