Nursing Assistant (MHO)

Reports to the Director, Patient Care Services

Specific Tasks

• Bathing patients, assisting with oral hygiene, making beds, straightening rooms and providing ongoing care throughout the shift.
• Giving, placing and emptying bedpans/urinals/commodes.
• Turning, positioning, moving, lifting, transferring and ambulating patients (including chest tube patients); also assisting with range of motion exercises using proper techniques.
• Preparing patients for meals (feeding or assisting); distributing and collecting meal trays.
• Taking and recording vital signs including temperatures, blood pressure, pulse and respirations; also measuring and recording standing or bed scale weights.
• Answering patient call lights, addressing the need and/or relaying messages appropriately.
• Performing skin care including cleaning patient's skin, surgical/procedural skin preps (clips, shaves, etc.) and applying skin products under the direction of a Registered Nurse.
• Performing wound care including sterile/unsterile dressing changes, hot/cold applications, suture/staple removal and documenting observations on the medical record.
• Conducting, performing and recording procedures (i.e., catheter insertion or removal, blood glucose monitoring, external monitors, hematest, incentive spirometry, sputum collection, IV site observation, discontinuing peripheral IVs/reseals, NG suction set-up, maintaining/adding feeding, recording intake, cardiac monitoring, EKGs, checking arterial pressure lines, implementing deep vein thrombosis prevention measures, etc.) as directed by a Registered Nurse.
• Emptying, measuring and recording foley, ileostomy/colostomy and/or gastric drainage bags and making ostomy pouch/dressing changes (established); emptying or changing oral suction containers; also recording, calculating and totaling intake and output records.
• Performing emergency procedures including calling a Code Blue, gathering equipment, performing CPR and using AED.
• Implementing isolation precautions including standard precautions, respiratory or strict isolation.
• Obtaining specimens as directed including urine, stool, hemoccult, gastroccult, sputum and nasal cultures (including MRSA).
• Assisting with postmortem care as directed by RN.
• Supporting the Patient Care Unit by observing, reporting and following up on patient complaints, unusual behavior, abnormal condition changes, incidents, concerns, questions or complaints expressed by patient, family or visitors.
• Transporting patients and delivering and returning equipment or supplies.
• Maintaining supply levels by observing and reporting necessary orders and placing supplies in the proper place when delivered.
• Cleaning and maintaining equipment during and after use (IVACs and isolation equipment).
• Maintaining neat and orderly patient care areas (linen removed from patient rooms and commodes and urinals emptied).
• Maintaining clean and orderly work areas (clean and soiled utility rooms, kitchen area).

Supports the Patient Care Unit

• Completing other job-related duties and projects as assigned.

Organizational Responsibilities

• Attends and participates in department meetings and is accountable for all information shared.
• Completes mandatory education, annual competencies and department specific education within established timeframes.
• Completes annual employee health requirements within established timeframes.
• Maintains license/certification, registration in good standing throughout fiscal year.
• Direct patient care providers are required to maintain current BCLS (CPR) and other certifications as required by position/department.
• Consistently utilizes appropriate universal precautions, protective equipment, and ergonomic techniques to protect patient and self.
• Adheres to regulatory agency requirements, survey process and compliance.
• Complies with established organization and department policies.
• Available to work overtime in addition to working additional or other shifts and schedules when required.

The Beacon Way

• Leverage innovation everywhere.
• Cultivate human talent.
• Embrace performance improvement.
• Build greatness through accountability.
• Use information to improve and advance.
• Communicate clearly and continuously.

Education and Experience

• The knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated below are acquired through the successful completion of a high school diploma or equivalent is preferred.
• Must be a minimum of 17 years of age.
• Previous patient care experience preferred.
• A Nurse Assistant certification is preferred.
• Must obtain Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS/CPR) within 3 months of hire and maintain certification.