Nursing Assistant

About the role

Under the supervision of the Registered Nurse and within hospital and department policies and procedures, assists in caring for patients and/or families from admission to discharge. A nursing assistant is a paraprofessional trained to provide personal care and related health care and assistance to individuals who are sick, disabled, or infirm, and who are residents of or receiving services from health care facilities or agencies licensed by the state and holds a license as a nursing assistant issued by the Department of Health.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Registered Nurse to organize work and set priorities.
• Perform personal care skills.
• Perform basic nursing assistant skills as outlined by the Rhode Island Department of Health Professional Licensing and Facility Regulation.
• Perform rehabilitation skills: perform daily activities of living, ambulate patient as appropriate.
• Maintain a safe environment: report unsafe conditions/situations to Registered Nurse, manager, or supervisor; report equipment in need of repair and remove from service.
• Recognize and report signs and symptoms: communicate all pertinent patient observations to the Registered Nurse.
• Maintain quality assurance and infection control in accordance with established hospital and department policies, procedures and objectives.
• Accurately document data in the EHR, patient care flowsheet, clinical data records; demonstrate ability to perform responsibilities in emergency/code situations.
• May function as a patient observer.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum qualifications

• Current Rhode Island license as a Nursing Assistant.
• High school graduate or its equivalent preferred.
• Ability to perform basic computer skills.
• Certified in American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLS).
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

Experience

One-year experience as a Nursing Assistant preferred.

Working environment and physical conditions

Works in healthcare environments such as acute care hospitals, physicians’ offices, and ancillary health care enterprises. Prolonged sitting, standing, and walking. Repeated bending, squatting, and stooping. May be required to lift/turn patients and equipment.