Nursing Assistant - Inpatient Acute SCI

About the role

The NA is learning to perform basic nursing duties under close supervision in a variety of health care settings such as outpatient, inpatient, home or community living care, acute, sub-acute. The NA will care for patients/residents with acute to chronic conditions.

Responsibilities

• Safely and effectively uses patient care equipment.
• Identifies potential and actual emergencies and takes appropriate actions.
• Implements hospital safety guidelines and maintains a safe environment for patients and staff.
• Reports all accidents to supervisor and notifies supervisor promptly of unsafe or unhealthy environmental situations/conditions.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient information.
• Sets-up, uses, reprocesses, and maintains all unit/department-specific equipment that is designed by the manufacturer to be reused for multiple patients.
• Obtains and records vital signs, pulse, temperature, respirations, blood pressure, and pain level.
• Makes measurements and records height and weight of patients.
• Aids patients with activities of daily living (e.g., hygiene, eating, dressing and ambulation) including oral/denture care, bed baths/shower, indwelling catheter care, perineal care, foot care, and changing bed linens.
• Aids with patient transfers in and out of bed.
• Aids with patient toileting needs; keeps incontinent patients clean.
• Aids with patient admissions ensuring personal belongings are inventoried and documented.
• Aids with patient discharges or transfers including stripping beds, ensuring patients have their belongings; and sweeps medication cabinets in patient rooms.
• Answers call lights and unit phones as needed.
• Performs glucose checks on patients as ordered.
• Turns and repositions patients at risk for skin breakdown.
• Performs range of motion exercises for patients.
• Reinforces non-sterile dressings.
• Applies anti-embolic hose/equipment (i.e., Ted hose, sequential compression devices).
• Applies adaptive devices and non-behavioral restraints as ordered.
• Functions as Continuous Observation Attendant (COA) in accordance with facility COA policy
• Relieves COAs as needed for breaks and meals.
• Wipes down all patients' bedside tables and side rails once a shift, and as needed.
• Ensures patients' bedside areas are neat, tidy, and free of fall hazards.
• Ensures patients have an adequate supply of water, cups, and straws at their bedside.
• Records and charts patient input and output (l&O).
• Conducts intentional frequent rounds on patients to ensure their needs are being met.
• Ensures safety precautions are in place.
• Empties indwelling catheter bags, urinals, surgical drains, and records output amounts.
• Assists with post-mortem care. Transports deceased bodies to morgue.
• Stocks supplies in patient care areas to ensure there are adequate supplies and equipment to meet patient care needs.
• Cleans reusable medical equipment (RME) on unit as needed.
• Documents vital signs in the electronic health record (EHR).
• Documents on the restraint and seclusion flow sheet per policy.
• Documents the care provided in EHR.
• Initiates CPR as appropriate.
• Performs bladder scan and reports findings to RN.
• Plays patients on cardiac monitors as needed.
• Applies ice packs with RN delegation as needed.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.
• Performs 12-lead EKGs.
• Selects and applies condom catheters as needed.
• Transports patients from one unit/area to another or to clinic appointments.
• Transports specimens to lab.
• Feeds patients on Aspiration Precautions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements.
• Education: Successful completion of 2 years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care, health care or in a field of study appropriate to the specialization of the position, such as education in a program for psychology, psychiatric, or operating room technicians.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): i Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. ii Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. iii Ability to properly use equipment, materials and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures such as bladder scan, continuous passive motion device, blood glucose monitoring machine, specimen collection, etc. iv Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals.