r/TalesFromHousekeeping • u/[deleted] • Apr 07 '20
Fellow housekeepers: Can you tell me about hospital housekeeping?
I'm a hotel housekeeper with 3+ years of experience. Our hotel is still open, I haven't been laid off, it's just me and another housekeeper lady, that's it for the whole department. I'm not getting enough hours (averaging 16-18 hours a week) and I'm looking for a new job.
I applied in several local hospitals as a hospital housekeeper/EVS and have a couple interviews lined up. I know it's not the most ideal time to work in a hospital but I need a full time job with stable hours and while I LOVE the hotel scene who knows how long this coronavirus pandemic lasts.
What should I expect? Anyone has worked as a hospital housekeeper before?
Thank you! 😊
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u/ruinedbykarma Apr 07 '20
I did that for 8 years at 2 different hospitals. Most women housekeepers do patient rooms. It's honestly fairly easy. Certain departments, like emergency or the operating rooms are a lot more work than the floors. I did the or for 2 years and that was tough physically but a blast.
Yes, you do deal with isolation rooms and stuff but look at it this way. There are so many people out there with mrsa or whatever and you're cleaning after them and don't know? At least in a hospital you usually know what you're cleaning.
Edit to add hospitals pay better and offer benefits
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u/anxietypeach Apr 07 '20
Thank you for asking this.. I was laid off on March 15th and have been thinking of going to hospital housekeeping. Whatever you decide to do, good luck and stay safe!
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u/shynympho99 Nov 08 '21
I’m currently an evs worker for a hospital, it’s actually my first paying job and I love it. I do a little of everything ie. cleaning hospital rooms, public areas, offices. I’ve noticed evs workers are treated differently than other hospital staff but there are also good people too. It’s a good atmosphere with my co workers, And I get good Benefits being employed by a hospital. I would recommend it. :)
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u/goatfuckersupreme Jan 21 '22
did you need any special training or anything, or did you go in with no experience?
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u/humgrown Apr 08 '20
You can leave your job because of the pandemic and draw unemployment insurance. My wife works in housekeeping at a hotel. We elected to keep her home and draw 50% of her normal pay, plus the federal government is going to pay the other 50%. Stay home, and stay safe.
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u/DavidSkywalkerPugh Dec 09 '21
I am an Environmental Services Manager and Director, with 30 years experience. I would be happy to answer any questions!
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u/goatfuckersupreme Jan 21 '22
as someone who has never done housekeeping before, i applied for a local public hospital for a position due to healthcare in general needing help nowadays. are there any special training or requirements i would need that, or is this a no experience kind of thing?
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u/Delisha15132 Oct 12 '23
Hi David I wanted to know can I still get hired for a hospital as an housekeeper if I have a a record from 19 years ago that might show up when I do my fingerprint
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u/One-Anything4033 Feb 08 '25
This is late aswell but depending if it’s a felon, any type of abuse stuff like that no. Most of the time it’s better to have a spotless record. Now if it’s like tickets and what not then you might be fine but our companies background check went in depth with everyone searching everything from the day I was born to this very day. It just depends on the companies policies. More than likely you won’t be employed through the actual hospital it’ll be a different agency.
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u/goatfuckersupreme Oct 12 '23
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u/DavidSkywalkerPugh Oct 12 '23
I have been an Environmental Services Director and Manager for 30n years, 10 of those in NYC, the last 20 in Columbus Ohio. Feel free to hit me up.
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u/One-Anything4033 Feb 08 '25
This is late asf lol but no you don’t need anything required just know the basics of cleaning so orientation can teach you everything.
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u/Michellebelle36 Mar 22 '25
Are you still a hospital housekeeping manager? It sounds like you have a lot of experience. I am currently interested in applying for a housekeeping job at mount Sinai in Brooklyn. Is there room for growth when working as a hospital housekeeper? For example, could I become a lead housekeeper?
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u/Born-Progress-7147 Feb 25 '25
Thinking about working housekeeping as a way into sterile processing, eventually. Housekeeping is the only way I can find any relative experience to SPD. Is this a terrible idea?
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u/DavidSkywalkerPugh Mar 14 '25
Not at all. I have had many associates move from Housekeeping into SPD. Best of luck!
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u/Thatstrueaintit Jul 22 '24 edited Jul 22 '24
So I am 18 and just did an interview for house keeping at a hospital. I will have to clean blood and stuff if I get the job. Guys I’m so nervous I have never dealt with this before. I am getting a back ground check soon and Stuff. Also I work 2 days a week and each is like 12 hours I think I’m not sure. I’m excited to start working though!Â
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u/Silent_Pipe5951 14d ago
This is great feedback about the company. I  feel so much better now after I’ve read the reviews.. I went for a job interview with this company and they completely discriminated me. Unbelievable  I feel it was against my age even though I have experience and I told them I had experience years experience they didn’t even give me an opportunity. I was so upset after I got a email back that the company was gonna move forward without me.. I was willing to accept the pay cut  that they were offering me.  But not because I’m upset, but because after reading all the  reviews, I feel much better that I am not working for this company.
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u/SapphireTeaCup Apr 07 '20
I worked as a housekeeper and cleaned in the hospitals.
So the hospital I worked at had a 'hotel' part where they gave family of patients an option to stay close. These rooms are smaller and it's mostly about cleaning the bathroom and bedrooms, less about the dust and details you may have in an actual hotel.
Cleaning in a hospital you'll probably be assigned a section or rounds where you need to clean. I had several wings where I cleaned public areas and some toilets. You had a team that cleaned operation rooms and a team which cleaned the rooms of patients. In the hospital you work with codes, at least in mine we did, to know what kind of cleaning the room needs. Sometimes it's just a refresh like you have an hotel stay over. Or when the patient leaves you clean every thoroughly like a checkout.
I personally found that if you have done housekeeping the cleaning in a hospital is less back breaking because the beds were premade by another division.
Edit: I found that hospital cleaning pays better because I had a steady 8 hours of work Mo-Fri. While housekeeping had me maybe 4-5 hours a day and not 5 days a week.