Nursing Assistant - Inpatient Medical Oncology at HUP, FT 1st Shift

Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines. Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day.

About the Role

The certified nursing assistant is an integral member of the health care team who delivers quality care through collaboration and communication with team members. They work under the direct supervision of the registered nurse to support and assist the nurse in the delivery of quality care to patients and families. Some of the major responsibilities include collection and reporting of patient data, incorporating organizational competencies of superior quality care, and assuming responsibility and accountability for their role performance outcomes while supporting HUP's Standards of Excellence.

Responsibilities

• Report:
  • Receives written/verbal report at the beginning of each shift from the registered nurse (RN) regarding the care to be delivered to the assigned group of patients or for patients needing constant observation.
  • Gives report when leaving unit and at the completion of the shift regarding the care delivered; any abnormalities occurring during the shift are reported to the RN as they occur and to the oncoming CNA.
• Assists in Assessment:
  • Identifies the patient per hospital policy before carrying out functions.
  • Assists with data collection for nursing history and physical (e.g., vital signs, height, weight, blood sugar results, functional status) and communicates changes to the RN in a timely fashion.
  • Participates in respectful communication with patients, families, and coworkers.
  • Provides patient and family information to the registered nurse for coordination of care and discharge planning.
  • Observes skin changes and reports discoloration, abrasions, infestations, or skin breakdown.
• Planning:
  • Assists in setting mutually agreed-upon realistic individual patient goals.
  • Integrates the RN’s directions regarding the patient’s plan of care into the care given to the patient.
  • Gives RN report before the end of the shift regarding the patient’s response to the plan of care, issues, and at various times during the shift to report unusual findings (e.g., abnormal blood sugar results, vital sign changes, pain).
• Intervention:
  • Promotes infection control by using appropriate hand-washing techniques.
  • Follows standard precautions and any other isolation precautions as dictated by the patient’s condition.
  • Maintains a safe environment and protects the patient from injury by observing patients at risk for falls, confusion, disorientation, wandering, or suicidal behaviors; follows Constant Observation Policy.
  • Applies and monitors patients in restraints per policy and per medical order.
  • Observes or monitors behavior/health state and responses to therapy, including:
    • Temperature, Pulse, Respiration
    • Blood Pressure
    • Neurological Checks
    • Vascular Checks
    • Height and Weight
    • Intake and Output
    • Bowel and Bladder Function Checks
    • Pain
  • Communicates pertinent observations to appropriate members of the healthcare team in a timely fashion.
  • Participates in multidisciplinary rounds on the patient care unit.
  • Performs patient care rounds per unit policy.
  • Participates in staff and unit council meetings.
• Accountabilities:
  • Works in collaboration with all members of the healthcare team.
  • Reports findings to the nurse concerning the patient and/or family which may impact patient care.
  • Performs or assists the patient with activities of daily living such as bathing (bed, tub, shower, or sitz), grooming, eating, feeding, range of motion, ambulating, transferring, and oral hygiene.
  • Participates in the prevention and treatment of skin breakdown.
  • Applies current accepted methods of heat and cold therapy as directed by the nurse.
  • Provides for the patient’s oral dietary needs using currently accepted methods.
  • Provides for elimination needs by giving a bedpan, urinal, emptying urinary and/or bowel appliances, or implementing the bowel program under the direction of the RN.
  • Assists with colostomy irrigations and vaginal irrigations.
  • Applies urosheath/condom catheter.
  • Removes Foley catheter as directed by the nurse and monitors urinary output as directed.
  • Administers cleansing enemas as ordered.
  • Performs post-mortem care.
  • Assists the physician to perform physical exams.
  • Assists with oxygen therapy only and does not regulate the flow of oxygen.
  • Encourages the use of pulmonary toilet by using the incentive spirometer, coughing, turning, and deep breathing.
  • Utilizes the appropriate equipment for patient lifting.
  • Reinforces health care instruction to patients according to the directions of the nurse.
  • Displays competence in using the following equipment and reports findings to the registered nurse:
    • Pulse oximeter
    • Bladder scanner
    • 12 Lead ECG
    • Data Scope
    • Electric Fetal Monitor (as applicable)
    • Glucometer
    • Foley removal
    • Lift and transfer devices
  • Performs continuous bladder irrigations per direction of RN.
• Documentation:
  • Documents findings, interventions, and patient outcome results on patient documents (e.g., I&O, VS, bladder scanner results, pulse ox results, glucometer results).
  • Documents using complete signature, status “CNA,” and date and time on all charted entries.
• Evaluation:
  • Assists in evaluating nursing care given by comparing the patient's functional status from day to day and discussing this with the nurse.

Requirements

• Basic Cardiac Life Support (Required)
• Certified Nurse Aide (Required)
• CNA Certification by the State of Pennsylvania

Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED (Required)
• Graduate of a certified nursing assistant program.
• In lieu of certification, must be a nursing student matriculated in an accredited BSN nursing program having minimally completed the nursing foundations/fundamentals clinical course with a 3.0 GPA overall and in the nursing major, and continue to maintain a 3.0 GPA in all nursing major subjects. Nursing students must:
  • Submit grade reports/transcripts to the Nursing Network Center within 60 days of course completion.
  • Immediately (within 24 hours) and in writing report to their supervisor and the Nursing Network Center if they have not sustained the academic GPA requirement or discontinued/withdrawn from their matriculated BSN program.
  • Failure to meet and maintain nursing student requirements in lieu of certification will result in termination of the nursing assistant position.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.