STUDENT NURSE ASSOCIATE

About the role

Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville, Tennessee is part of Covenant Health, East Tennessee’s largest nonprofit health system and a Becker’s “Top 150 Places to Work in Healthcare.” Fully accredited by the Joint Commission, Cumberland Medical Center is an acute care hospital offering all private patient rooms as well as comprehensive care including cardiology, orthopedics, maternity, cancer treatment, and wound care. The hospital features emergency and critical care, surgical suites, and specialized programs such as imaging, cardiac rehab, sleep disorder care, and hyperbaric medicine, all in a family-oriented environment focused on exceptional patient care.

Performs a wide variety of patient care activities and supportive services under the supervision of a registered nurse. Demonstrates competence in performing critical skills (Student Nurse Associate Core Competency checklist) to include appropriate delivery of care according to age-specific needs of the population served.

Responsibilities

• Take and record temperature, pulse, respiration rates, blood pressure, weight, height and intake-output measurements.
• Document oxygen saturation if patient is connected to continuous pulse oximetry.
• Employ all established infection control policies including standard precautions, transmission-based isolation precautions, OSHA standards, safety measures and proper body mechanic in performance of job.
• Complete designated patient care activities and provide for patient comfort and privacy.
• Identify and assist patients that need assistance with nutrition and/or hydration.
• Empty drains, canisters, urine bags, bedpans and emesis basins and record intake and output.
• Help to maintain clean and orderly patient and work environment.
• Revise and update the plan of care as problems change and/or new problems are identified in collaboration with R.N.
• Assist RN in obtaining a thorough nursing history on assigned patients.
• Demonstrate effective therapeutic communication skills.
• Document/maintain patient record as appropriate.
• Perform basic dressing changes and be knowledgeable of the fundamentals of sterile technique.
• Evaluate nursing care actions and patient responses and document each shift.
• Observe and respond appropriately to changes and complications in patient conditions.
• Report significant changes in patient condition to RN.
• Document treatments and diagnostic tests with results and response.
• Document in a clear, concise, accurate and legible manner.
• Observe assigned post-treatment/operative patients immediately upon return to floor and initiate appropriate nursing actions.
• Obtain RN signature for review and co-signature all entries.
• Complete assigned tasks with minimal supervision, but seek guidance when uncertain how to perform procedure.
• Communicate suggestions and/or complaints through appropriate channels.
• Display cooperation, flexibility and positive behavior to patients and other staff members.
• Demonstrate ability to effectively perform under stress.
• Follow policies, procedures, and safety standards.
• Complete required education assignments annually.
• Work toward achieving goals and objectives, and participate in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum Education: Student in an accredited nursing education program. Student must have junior or senior year status and must have successfully completed fundamental clinical skills portion of the program or must complete the program within the same semester of hiring into the position. (1st semester of clinicals)
• Minimum Experience: None required but able to perform as nursing assistant; previous hospital experience preferred.
• Licensure Requirement: CPR required.

Skills

• Ability to operate computer.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.