Clinical Associate

About the role

The role involves performing direct and indirect patient care activities under the supervision of a registered professional nurse. Assists in providing high quality, cost-effective care by performing delegated tasks.

Responsibilities

• Assists in direct patient care by providing basic physical care to promote patient comfort as directed by the Registered Nurse.
• Affords assistance with activities of daily living according to need in a timely manner including making all assigned beds.
• Safely transports and patients according to WVUH's Safe Patient Handling Policy to all tests and procedures as well as escorts patients for discharge.
• Transports specimens and items throughout the facility.
• Performs assigned tests such as glucose monitoring, urine and stool testing and maintains quality control testing & logs, according to department policy.
• On Subacute Unit, CNAs are not permitted to do glucose monitoring.
• Performs routine phlebotomy services, excluding line draws, in departments determined by management.
• Obtains and records assigned patient temperatures, pulse rates, respiratory rates, blood pressures, intake and outputs, weights and abdominal girths according to departmental policy.
• Provides respiratory support by properly setting up equipment needed for oxygen administration.
• Encourages the usage of Incentive Spirometer according to Respiratory Care procedure.
• Observes and reports all patient concerns/changes in condition to a registered nurse immediately.
• Prepares patients for examinations and diagnostic procedures according to departmental procedure.
• Affords assistance with examinations and procedures.
• Affords assistance with basic rehab/Physical Therapy activities, i.e. active and passive range of motion and ambulation.
• Communicates with RN regarding any nutrition issues, such as poor appetite or verbalized lack of understanding of diet changes.
• Provides total care within scope of practice (vital signs, activities of daily living) when assigned sitter or constant visual responsibilities.
• Maintains a clean and safe environment to help prevent and/or control infections and to provide for safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Maintains clean assigned, unit equipment according to departmental procedures.
• Reports all necessary equipment repairs to appropriate personnel according to departmental procedure in a timely manner.
• Affords assistance with routine unit operations as directed/needed to assure smooth communication and functioning of the unit.
• Courteously answers telephone in a timely manner, identifying self and unit at all times.
• Courteously answers patient call bell and relays message to the appropriate personnel.
• Relays accurate telephone, visitor and patient messages to appropriate persons in a timely manner.
• Promptly completes errands as requested.
• Removes out of date items.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Obtain certification in Basic Life Support or HeartSaver First Aid within 30 days of hire date.
• Prior patient care experience preferred.