Certified Nursing Assistant (Med Surge)

About the role

The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium is seeking qualified candidates for a Certified Nursing Assistant position. This role provides basic patient care to all patients including those in isolation, ensuring patient safety under ANMC care through observation.

Responsibilities

• Observes patients experiencing suicidal ideation, behavioral health issues, or other safety concerns to ensure safety and stability.
• Reports significant changes or unusual occurrences to primary Registered Nurse (RN).
• Records and reports all information within scope of knowledge.
• Conducts regular environmental assessments to ensure the environment is free of objects, equipment, medications, etc. that a suicidal patient may use to harm themselves.
• Provides basic care including hygiene and activities of daily living such as bed baths, showers, grooming, dressing, toileting, monitoring body functions, preventative skin care, incontinence care, feeding, and oral hygiene.
• Assists nursing staff with mobility using safe transfer techniques, patient transport, range of motion, ambulation, restraints, care for the patient’s environment, and application of safety measures to all patients.
• Obtains and records vital signs, temperature, height, weight, girth measurements, incentive spirometry, calorie counts, and other specific parameters as directed.
• Documents findings on appropriate electronic health record (EHR) flow sheet and reports findings to the RN.
• Identifies and reports changes in patients’ status to the RN.
• Performs patient treatments as directed such as application of heat or cold, and simple non-sterile dressings.
• Provides ostomy, post-mortem, and indwelling catheter care.
• Assists with oral suctioning, care of established tracheostomies, and care of long term permanent-placed feeding tube sites (not nasal tubes).
• Performs a variety of technical tasks which may include: non-invasive collection and transportation of specimens to the laboratory, obtaining blood glucose levels, measuring and recording fluid and food intake and output, removal of urinary catheter, bowel care, placing electrodes and leads for electrocardiograms, cardiac monitoring, and telemetry, traction frame set up, cast care, and application of external monitoring devices.
• Documents and reports results to the RN.
• Recognizes abnormal signs and symptoms including shortness of breath, rapid respiration, fever, chills, cough, chest or abdomen pain, blue color to the lips, drowsiness, and excessive thirst or sweating. Reports changes in body function, abnormal signs and symptoms to RN.
• Initiates CPR and other basic life support or emergency measures as required.
• Adheres to established safety, emergency and disaster procedures.
• Assists with patient examinations and therapeutic procedures, including aseptic procedures requiring sterile preps.
• Transports patients and equipment as required.
• Maintains cleanliness and safety of a variety of equipment; reports any hazardous equipment and seeks repairs when necessary; maintains confidentiality in regard to patient care information and chart contents.
• Affords assistance in infection control including using standard precautions and isolation precautions as appropriate.
• Collaborates with personnel in nursing and supportive services and with members of the health care team to promote respect in delivery of patient care.
• Performs clerical duties. Answers the phones, completes requisitions, schedules tests and appointments, scans and files reports, orders supplies and equipment, and manages patients’ medical records.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Level I employees are new graduate or newly certified within their first 2 years of practice.
• Level II employees have at least 2 years of practice and demonstrate increased levels of training, certification, and precepting.
• Level III employees perform high level, complex, and responsible tasks within this position, assist with process improvements, train lower-level employees, and generally work with minimum supervision and follow-up from their supervisor.