GIRMC Student Nurse Technician

About the Role

Responsible for serving on the patient care team for an assigned area, providing direct patient care as an unlicensed professional under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN). This role incorporates the primary functions of a certified nursing assistant (CNA) along with other duties related to patient care, dependent on the work area and patient populations assigned. Reports to Nurse Manager, Charge Nurse, House Supervisor, or Staff RN.

Incumbents holding nursing licensure will be held accountable to Nebraska nursing licensure requirements and must maintain licensure or an active Nebraska CNA.

Responsibilities

• Commits to the mission, vision, beliefs, and consistently demonstrates core values.
• Recognizes and reacts to emergency procedures per role and policies/procedures.
• Answers telephones and assigned communication devices, relaying information as necessary. Refers all physician telephone orders to a licensed professional.
• Assists with patient care consistent with standards of care and clinical priorities determined by the RN, considering area/unit policies, demonstrated competencies, risk management, and infection control practices.
• Performs and documents routine direct nursing care tasks according to identified age-specific needs, including obtaining and recording vitals, height, weight, and bedside glucose results; reports results to appropriate personnel.
• Performs Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) for assigned patients and documents in the EMR.
• Labels and secures patient care belongings, ensuring the patient room is safe and uncluttered.
• Distributes patient meals/water and assists with feeding as needed. Assists with ambulation, lifting, and positioning according to procedure, including appropriate use of patient lift devices and good body mechanics.
• Assists with transporting patients, including at time of transfer and/or dismissal.
• Assists patients with elimination needs, measures/records bodily elimination in the medical record, and provides hygiene care as directed by the RN.
• Participates in Hourly Patient Rounds to proactively address patient needs.
• Provides close observation or one-to-one care, as directed by the RN, to prevent patients from wandering or potential injury.
• Collects, accurately labels, and transports specimens to the lab as required.
• Assists with dressing changes, applying splints, setting up suturing and procedures, and wound care on closed wounds as directed by RN.
• Cleans, stocks, and cares for supplies and equipment in the assigned work area.
• Collaborates with other departments to coordinate exams and treatments, minimizing fragmentation and enhancing patient satisfaction.
• Assists in collecting specific information from patients and contributes to admission, transfer, and dismissal processes when delegated by an RN, ensuring timely reporting and recording in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
• Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to stay current with trends in the field.
• Participates in meetings, committees, and department projects as assigned.
• Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Current enrollment and good standing in a Nursing Program such as an accredited Baccalaureate Nursing Program or RN Associate Degree program required.
• Active Nebraska Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential required.
• Six (6) months of CNA experience preferred.
• Basic Life Support (CPR) certification required (American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or Military Training Network).

Skills

• Maintains clinical competency as required for the unit, including age-specific competencies, annual skill verification, and mandatory education.
• Knowledge of computer hardware and software applications relevant to work functions.
• Knowledge of general hospital processes and procedures.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with patients who have acute, chronic, and complex disease processes, including end-of-life care.
• Ability to practice proper body mechanics to ensure personal and patient safety.
• Ability to recognize and react to emergency procedures per role and policies/procedures.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to perform crucial conversations with desired outcomes.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of personnel and medical staff.
• Problem-solving and independent critical thinking skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Ability to prioritize work demands and work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance.

Physical Requirements

Characterized as medium work requiring exertion of 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or a greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.