Health Care Assistant (CNA), Cardiovascular Med/Surg Unit

About the Organization

University of Utah Health is a patient-focused organization dedicated to enhancing health and well-being through patient care, research, and education. We are a Level 1 Trauma Center nationally ranked for academic research, quality standards, and patient experience. Our mission is supported by a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect, with five hospitals and eleven clinics providing comprehensive services.

About the Role

This position provides patient care under the direction of a Registered Nurse, with direct and indirect contact with patients and their families. Responsibilities include administering medications within scope of practice and according to state law, as well as performing duties that support patient care in a 24/7 complex health system.

Responsibilities

• Assists patients with feeding, drinking, ambulating, grooming, toileting, dressing, socializing, and unit-specific technical skills.
• Reinforces or assists in educating patients and significant others as delegated by the professional care provider.
• Collects, reports, and documents data related to direct patient care activities.
• Assists with indirect patient care activities, including maintaining a clean and safe environment, companion care, housekeeping, transporting patients, and chaperoning physicians during examinations.
• Performs unit-specific duties and additional clerical tasks, such as stocking supplies, processing paper orders during downtime, and managing electronic requests for medical treatments and tests.
• Schedules patient appointments, maintains patient records, and manages admits, discharges, and transfers per unit standards.
• Observes cardiac monitors and notifies staff of abnormal heart rhythms indicating ischemia or acute myocardial infarction.
• Communicates with hospital staff, physicians, patients, families, and visitors.
• Works rotating schedules, including variable hours, weekends, nights, and holidays, to meet staffing and patient care demands.

Requirements

• Demonstrated availability to work variable and rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, in a 24/7 patient care environment.
• Ability to perform essential job functions, including lifting up to 100 pounds and moving patients or medical equipment.
• Demonstrated human relation, communication, and customer service skills.
• Ability to work in a busy environment and use multi-line phone systems and hospital paging systems.
• Ability to initiate appropriate action in emergency or crisis situations.

Qualifications

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential (obtained within 30 days of hire).
• One of the following:
  • Current certification as a Nursing Assistant with the State of Utah.
  • Completion of the first round of clinicals and current enrollment in an approved nursing education program.
• For those enrolled in a nursing program: incumbent has three months from completion of the RN program to obtain an RN license. If not obtained, a current CNA certification is required.
• Individuals in this job code with an RN license must also have a CNA certification if they remain in the role longer than three months.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a healthcare setting.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

This role involves intermediate working conditions in a healthcare setting, including:

• Exerting up to 100 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or move patients or objects.
• Exposure to infectious diseases and potential interaction with prisoners or behavioral health patients.
• Physical requirements include carrying, climbing, color determination, crawling, far and near vision, lifting, listening, manual dexterity, pulling/pushing, reaching, sitting, speaking, standing, stooping/crouching, tasting/smelling, and walking.