Nursing Assistant- 7HT- Nights

Major Responsibilities

• Demonstrates competency in the physical care of the patient according to AHF/unit Patient Care Standards, including:
  • Personal care for all body systems, including bathing, oral hygiene, perineal care, linen changes and hair care
  • Pre- and post-op/procedure care
  • Post-mortem care
  • Patient in restraints
  • Placement of electrodes for cardiac, respiratory and/or fetal monitoring
  • Assisting with ambulation and exercise
  • Patients with infectious diseases including TB, hepatitis, AIDS, including those requiring isolation
  • Correct positioning of patients in beds, chairs, and specialty surfaces
  • Transfer of patient (e.g. bed to chair, bed to commode or back)
  • Transportation of patients on wheelchair, stretcher, bed, etc.
  • Skin care protocols and care
• Accurately performs/documents intake/output, vital signs, weights and other monitoring, including computerized charting
• Promptly notifies nurse of abnormal vital signs, observations, physical complaints, etc.
• Patients with latex allergies
• Assists in identifying patients at risk for falls and preventing falls
• Maintains a clean, safe and comfortable environment for the patient, including correct handling of body fluids and appropriate cleaning of equipment between patients
• Demonstrates utilization of proper body mechanics and appropriate lift techniques/resources
• Performs glucose monitoring via fingerstick
• Implements admission, transfer and discharge procedures, according to AHF/unit standards:
  • Assists with timely admission, discharge or transfer
  • Provides explanations of the physical environment, including communication devices
  • Accurately records relevant and required information on the appropriate documentation tool
  • Collects and properly forwards patient's personal belongings at the time of transfer, discharge or death, documenting disposition
  • Assures unused equipment and supplies are cleaned/removed from the patient's room after discontinuation
  • Utilizes discharge process, to include bed tracking, when discharging/transferring patients

Communication And Interpersonal Skills

• Assures timely and appropriate communication of patient/family issues
• Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients, families and members of the health care team through effective use of verbal and non-verbal communication skills
• Utilizes appropriate lines of authority
• Maintains confidentiality in accordance with hospital policies
• Demonstrates effective conflict resolution skills
• Demonstrates awareness of satisfaction issues and contributes to resolution and improvement

Skills And Competencies

• Time management and prioritization
• Teamwork
• Problem solving and critical thinking
• Organization of work and environment
• Timely response to patient/nurse needs and requests

Supplies, Equipment And Unit Cleanliness

• Maintains a neat and orderly appearance of patient areas
• Restocks supplies at the bedside, supply shelves, and other designated areas
• Reports broken, malfunctioning or missing equipment to the appropriate person
• Ensures appropriate charges are made
• Properly handles, stores, cleans and maintains equipment
• Efficiently and appropriately uses supplies, linen and dietary items

Self-growth And Accountability

• Participates in quality assurance and PI activities
• Participates in at least 50% of unit meetings and reads/initials minutes of all meetings not attended
• Maintains awareness of hospital/division/unit procedure/policy changes which affect the delivery of patient care
• Verbalizes how his/her job supports organizational/departmental goals and pillars of excellence
• Demonstrates Cultural Commitments
• Assures competency maintained
• Complies with unit-specific articulated job expectations

Complex Care Activities

• Completion of Preceptor training and serving in Preceptor role
• Glucose monitoring and quality control checks
• Respiratory Care including tracheostomy care, suctioning, etc.
• Complete required CPR training as defined by organization
• Dressing changes
• Monitoring chest and other drainage tubes and levels, reporting deviations
• Procedure/Equipment set-up
• Assembling, administering, monitoring tube feedings
• Assists in achieving unit quality scores which meet or exceed hospital/national average for nurse-sensitive quality indicators such as skin breakdown, falls, and others as appropriate for the unit

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED
• Ability to communicate with patients, staff, and coworkers

Physical Requirements

• Spends much of the day walking and standing on tile or carpet, bending, stooping, and sitting
• Must be able to use visual near and distance acuity
• Must have verbal ability to communicate in person and over the phone or radio
• Must be able to assist co-workers in transfers and transport supplies, patients/residents, or equipment using good body mechanics
• Must have functional range of motion of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines, upper and lower extremities with a grip strength of 60-80 pounds, specific to the job class evaluation
• Must be able to forward reach, overhead reach, bend, squat, kneel and change from one position to the other rapidly
• Must be able to lift 25-60 lbs. and carry 25-50 pounds specific to job class evaluation
• Must be able to tolerate high noise, busy atmospheres and noxious odors

Preferred Qualifications

• BLS, CPI; Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) preferred
• One year of experience taking care of patients and dealing with the public preferred