Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) (Nursing) (Santa Rosa)

Formerly Aurora Santa Rosa Hospital, SRBHH opened in 2016 and is an integral part of the greater Santa Rosa and Northern California mental health system of care. Located in the North Bay, this hospital consists of 144 acute psychiatric inpatient beds and serves adolescents and adults, treating both mental health and co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse conditions.

About the role

The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) provides direct patient care to all patients with physical and emotional or psychiatric disorders, supports the therapeutic milieu, ensures safety and well-being of patients, and carries out general nursing assistance necessary to the treatment of adolescents, adults, or older adult patients. The CNA, along with the Mental Health Technician, is primarily responsible for the safety of the unit milieu. Environmental safety rounds are required each shift, including ongoing safety assessments and securing contraband. Safety observations must be documented in the patient’s medical record as ordered by the psychiatric provider or under the direction of the Registered Nurse. The CNA maintains knowledge of occupational health hazards (e.g., bloodborne pathogen exposures) and participates in further training provided.

Responsibilities

• Assists patients with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), including grooming, bathing, and preparing rooms with necessary items such as blankets, pillows, medical equipment, and toiletries.
• Helps patients with meals and intake, ensuring regular meals are provided.
• Monitors vitals and behavior, reporting them to nursing and medical staff.
• Transfers patients with low mobility (e.g., from wheelchair to bed or toilet).
• Turns or adjusts patients in bed to prevent bedsores.
• Participates in treatment planning, including identifying patients' problems, needs, and strengths, and collecting and recording data on client behavior and progress.
• Assists in the creation and implementation of behavioral intervention plans and suggests modifications based on observations.
• Provides input into discharge planning.
• Monitors patients’ progress and communicates behavior observations to the treatment team.
• Maintains communication with patients, family members, and referral sources.
• Co-facilitates didactic, educational, and community groups within the adolescent treatment program.
• Encourages and facilitates patients' participation in therapeutic activities.
• Supervises patients to ensure safety and involvement in treatment.
• Provides input during shift report and accompanies/transports patients as assigned.
• Orients new patients to the unit, program, and milieu.
• Assists patients with activities of daily living in alignment with their treatment plan, age, and developmental level.
• Maintains a safe, orderly, and therapeutic physical environment for patients.
• Participates in maintaining the therapeutic milieu on the unit, enforcing behavior management systems.
• Maintains patient, program, department, and related documentation.
• Completes clerical and administrative tasks to support patient care and department operations.
• Completes orientation and competency assessments as required.
• Participates in activities enhancing professional growth and development.
• Upholds the organization’s ethics and customer service standards.

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent required.
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification required.
• Pursuit of a college degree in an applicable field of study preferred.
• Current CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certification (or obtained within 30 days of hire).
• Verbal de-escalation and physical intervention program certification as approved by the CNO.
• High school-level reading and writing skills; legible handwriting.
• Current certification in the prevention and management of aggressive behaviors and verbal de-escalation skills (or obtained within the first 30 days of hire).
• Familiarity with medical and psychological terminology and human behavior principles preferred.
• Basic knowledge of human growth and development helpful.
• Experience with therapeutic limit-setting or understanding of behavior management modalities helpful.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and treat patients with respect.

Skills and Abilities

• Properly assesses routine situations and takes appropriate action.
• Demonstrates the ability to set limits and use de-escalation techniques appropriately.
• Accepts feedback positively and applies it to improve performance.
• Follows all safety procedures and responds calmly to alarms or codes.
• Works directly with Inpatient Psychiatric Registered Nurses to ensure unit safety and communicates clinical updates clearly.
• Conducts and documents 15-minute (or more frequent, including 1:1) patient rounds in a timely manner.
• Performs Hall Monitor duties as outlined in policy and procedure.
• Collaborates with the nursing team to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment, including appropriate use of a hall monitor.
• Communicates with authority in a calm, clear voice and uses proper word selection.
• Interacts professionally with all customers (family, referral sources, caseworkers, etc.) in a courteous, friendly, and empathetic manner.
• Exhibits a calm and controlled attitude, avoiding overreaction in volatile situations.
• Answers the telephone professionally, directs calls appropriately, and takes messages.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Demonstrates sensitivity and willingness to interact with persons of various social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with flexibility in scheduling.
• Good judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Maintains accurate account of work time and completes rest-period breaks according to hospital policy.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, expanding environment.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations, including verbal or physical confrontations.
• Ability to work and concentrate amidst distractions such as noise, conversation, and foot traffic.
• Flexibility to handle interruptions and move between tasks without frustration.
• Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, and grasp.
• Ability to perceive attributes of objects (size, shape, temperature, texture) through touch, particularly with fingertips.
• Ability to express and exchange ideas via spoken word, including conveying detailed instructions accurately, sometimes quickly and loudly.
• Hearing to perceive sound with no less than 40 db loss at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz, with or without correction.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with wrists, hands, and fingers.
• Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects.
• Minimum standard of visual acuity (with or without correction) to complete administrative tasks and observe patients.
• Work is predominantly indoors, with minimal exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Pay

$25.00–$29.38 per hour.

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Healthcare Spending Account
• Life Insurance (Supplemental Life, Term, and Universal plans available)
• Short- and Long-Term Disability (with additional buy-in opportunities)
• PTO Plan with Holiday Premium Pay
• Discounted Cafeteria Meal Plan
• Tuition Reimbursement