CNA / Ward Clerk - Emergency Department

Hourly Rate: $21.74 – $33.30

About the role

The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in the Emergency Department provides direct patient care and assists with clinical and non-clinical duties in a fast-paced environment. The CNA works under the direction of Registered Nurses (RNs) and physicians to ensure patient comfort, safety, and well-being while facilitating smooth operations. This role also includes Ward Clerk responsibilities, maintaining patient records, handling telephone communication, and supporting efficient department operations.

Responsibilities

• CNA Patient Care:
  • Assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting.
  • Measure and record vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respiratory rate.
  • Assist with patient transfers, positioning, and ambulation as directed.
  • Provide comfort measures (e.g., adjusting position, offering blankets, or providing support during examinations).
  • Assist with the collection of specimens (urine, stool, blood) as needed.
  • Help prepare patients for exams, procedures, and diagnostic tests.
  • Observe patients for changes in condition and report significant changes to nursing staff.
  • Perform hourly patient rounding and document in the electronic health record (EHR).
• Collaboration and Communication:
  • Work alongside nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals to deliver optimal care.
  • Communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare team members regarding patient needs and statuses.
  • Record patient information accurately in the EHR, including vital signs and updates.
• Support for Procedures and Treatments:
  • Assist during medical procedures such as wound care, dressing changes, and minor procedures under the direction of a physician or RN.
  • Prepare patient rooms and maintain a clean and organized environment.
  • Ensure patient equipment (e.g., monitors, oxygen, suction devices) is functioning properly.
• Organizational Tasks:
  • Update patient charts, stock supplies, and maintain clean and sanitized patient areas.
  • Maintain emergency room supplies, including linens and medical equipment.
• Compliance and Safety:
  • Follow hospital protocols and infection control policies, including hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Ensure confidentiality of patient information in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
• Ward Clerk Clerical and Administrative Support:
  • Answer phone calls, direct them to appropriate departments, and provide information to patients and families.
  • Handle patient records, forms, and documentation accurately.
  • Arrange patient admits and transfers, ensuring all forms are completed correctly.
  • Document details regarding consultations, treatments, and care plans.

Qualifications

• Education:
  • Required: High School graduate or GED.
  • Preferred: College education.
• Licenses/Certifications/Registrations:
  • Required: CNA Certification from the State of Oregon; Basic Life Support (BLS); MOAB within 6 months of hire.
  • Preferred: NA.
• Experience:
  • Required: Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment; excellent communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills; physical stamina to lift and move patients.
  • Preferred: Experience in an acute care or emergency room setting.
• Other:
  • Ability to work with a culturally diverse population.
  • Able to provide age-specific, culturally sensitive, and physically/psychosocially appropriate patient care.

Skills and Qualities

• Attention to detail for accurate and up-to-date patient information.
• Strong communication skills for interacting with patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
• Multitasking in a high-pressure environment.
• Confidentiality and compliance with healthcare privacy regulations (e.g., HIPAA).
• Inventory management to ensure medical supplies and equipment are well-stocked.

Equipment/Tools/Work Aids

• Computer (order entry system), printer, photocopier, patient records, telephone system.
• Accu-check monitors, blood pressure cuffs, thermometers.
• Patient beds, wheelchairs, stretchers, bed scales.

Physical Requirements

• Auditory ability to detect and respond to patient alarms and verbal communication.
• Visual acuity for observing patient conditions, reading documentation, and distinguishing colors.
• Tactile perception for assessing temperature, size, shape, or texture during patient care.
• Motor coordination for reaching, grasping, and handling medical equipment.
• Occasional stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
• Continuous walking and standing throughout the shift.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds independently; frequent pushing, pulling, or carrying of objects/patients up to 25 pounds.
• Occasional lifting or transferring of individuals over 100 pounds with assistance or mechanical aids.
• Ability to sit for long periods.

Working Conditions

• Primarily indoors in a healthcare environment (e.g., hospital, clinic).
• Exposure to variable indoor temperatures, infectious diseases, hazardous materials, and medical equipment.
• Fast-paced, unpredictable environment with high-pressure or emergency situations.
• Frequent exposure to noise from medical equipment, staff activity, and patient needs.

Pay

Hourly Rate: $21.74 – $33.30

Schedule

Varied shifts in the Emergency Center.