The Skills, Duties and Dedication of a Hospital Housekeeper, and How They Should Be Rewarded
Usually, the term “housekeeper” is officially referred to as an “Environmental Services Technician” or EVS for short. The role of the EVS Tech (hospital housekeeper) is a crucial one. Without you, hospitals wouldn’t be able to maintain their standards of healthcare. You work hard through day and night. But are you feeling like you’re underpaid for the work you do?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 2% decline in housekeeping employment by 2028, including hospital settings. Yet, with the surge on demand from healthcare facilities increasing due to the pandemic, the role of the hospital housekeeper continues to remain an essential part of the system. So, you mustn’t be afraid to ask if you’re being paid enough.
In this article we’ll be looking at the duties of a hospital housekeeper around the clock, how this should be reflected in the salary, and what factors may affect your paycheck.
The Hospital Housekeeper – A Critical Role
As a hospital housekeeper, you are responsible for ensuring a sterile environment throughout the hospital – an environment that is constantly under threat from germs and diseases. Doing so involves cleaning:
- Emergency rooms
- Waiting rooms
- Restrooms
- Handrails
- Offices
- Medical supply storage rooms
- Etc.
As well as this, you may also be responsible for:
- Making patients’ beds
- Distributing clean towels to patients
- Correct storage and use of cleaning equipment
- Keeping inventory of cleaning stock
- Reporting maintenance issues that need further attention
- Ensuring health and safety precautions are strictly adhered to
What is asked of the hospital housekeeper is vast and imperative to the hospital, its staff, and the patients.
Average salary
According to BLS, the average salary of a hospital housekeeper is $14.64 per hour – more than housekeepers who work in a nursing care facility, who earn around £12.05 per hour.
However, the salary offered may differ depending on various factors, such as skills, experience, and length of service.
Skills of a Hospital Housekeeper
A good housekeeper displays more ability than simply completion of daily tasks. The following is a list of desired skills that will enhance your capability and could help to improve your salary:
- Great communication skills with patients
- Advanced organizational skills
- Ability to take initiative
- The knowledge for correct chemical handling
- Knowledge of sterilizing equipment
- Problem-solving skills
- Basic plumbing/electric maintenance ability
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to maintain positivity
To enhance your earnings and job opportunities, improving your skills in any of the above area will be of enormous value – and could help you progress your career toward housekeeping management if you desire.
Experience Makes a Difference
Hospital housekeepers are given full training on how to fulfil their duties, and this is provided ‘on the job’. To do this, hospital facilities provide support, guidance, instruction, and supervision.
As your experience increases, your confidence will grow. You may be asked to provide supervisory support to new members of the team.
As you work more independently, your pay is likely to increase. You may also expect higher pay if your supervisory duties are formalized.
Years of service
The length of time you serve as a hospital housekeeper will strengthen your experience and skillset, and this should be rewarded with higher pay.
Of course, the rate at which your pay increases depends upon factors such as pay agreements and the rate of inflation as well as your location. But, with several years of experience and an attractive skillset, your attractiveness as a candidate means you should be earning above the average.
Summing Up
Over decades of providing healthcare to millions of Americans every year, the hospital housekeeper has remained the unsung hero. Without you, hospitals couldn’t operate. So how do you feel about your pay? Do you meet and excel all your role’s duties? Do you go above and beyond? Do you make knowledgeable decisions and act professionally and positively? Do you hold all and more of the skills that we’ve mentioned in this article?
If you feel you’re undervalued and underpaid in your hospital housekeeping job, then get in touch with HireCare today. We are here to help you, and make sure hospital housekeepers are the recognized heroes they deserve to be, with a salary to match.
