JOB SUMMARY

Performs various direct patient care activities under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. Assist patients with living skills: bathing, eating, hygiene, changing bed linens. Collects non-invasive body fluid specimens, gathers vital signs Aids physicians and nursing staff members with procedures within the scope of practice.

SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provide general nursing care such as positioning patients; lifting and turning patients; applying/utilizing special equipment; assisting in use of bedpan, urinal or commode; ambulating the patient; pre-operative and post-operative care; and application of appliances, taking blood pressure and TPR, and documents appropriately.
• Assist in preparation of units, patient rooms, supplies, and beds for receiving patient admissions, returning surgical patients, transfers, emergencies, or discharges.
• Assists in obtaining admission height, weight, and vital signs.
• Provide living skills, which may include bed bath, oral hygiene, combing hair, back care, dressing patient, changing bed linen,
• Prepare patients for meals, serve and remove food trays, and assist with meals or feed patients; documents percentage of diet consumed.
• Accurately documents vital signs, intake and output, accurately records patients’ weight.
• Perform quality controls on assigned glucometer each shift.
• Answer patient call lights, anticipate patients’ needs, and make rounds to assigned patients.
• Perform general care activities for patients in isolation. Follow isolation protocols.
• Distribute drinking water and other nourishments to patients as ordered.
• Assist Staff Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Practical Nurse with treatment procedures.
• Assists in and accompany patients in the admission, transfer and discharge procedures.
• Assist patients with handling and care of clothing and other personal property (including dentures, glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, prosthetic devices) throughout their hospital stay.
• Collect and transport specimens to the correct department.
• Transport patients to and from various departments as requested.
• Accurately reports (and when appropriate, records) patient care and assessment date, and any changes observed in condition or behavior of patients and unusual incidents to the Nurse responsible for the patient’s care.
• Participate in and contribute to Nursing Care Plans.
• Provide post-mortem care and assists, as needed, in transport.
• Assist in maintaining a safe and clean environment by cleaning Utility Rooms, cleaning equipment and preparing for disinfection or sterilization, reporting equipment that is out of order, reporting other problems to the Nurse in charge, appropriate handling of clean and dirty linen and store supplies on the unit.
• Establish and maintain interpersonal relationships with patients, visitors, and other hospital personnel, while ensuring confidentiality of patient information.
• Attend in-service education programs, as assigned, to learn new treatments, procedures, developmental skills, etc. Attend scheduled staff meetings per year.
• Completes all required annual competency skills and mandatory in-services / training classes.
• Practice careful, efficient and non-wasteful use of supplies and linen, and follow established charge procedure for patient charge items.
• Performs other duties as assigned or delegated by the Nurse Manager or Nurse.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
functions.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

Previous patient care experience, preferably in a hospital or long term care facility. Nurse Aid certification preferred.

• Provide care for the Adult or Geriatric patient, ages 18 years and over.
• Demonstrates and understands the importance of and respect for the rights, dignity and individuality of each patient in all interactions.
• Adheres to all components of the Hospital Compliance Plan in performing job duties and reports any violations or suspected violations of the Plan to the Compliance Officer.
• Demonstrates professional conduct and complies with hospital and departmental policies and procedures.
• Show dependability by adhering to hospital attendance policy as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Work effectively as a team member in the delivery of care and assists in the orientation of new employees.
• Maintain a neat and professional appearance while performing duties in a competent and caring manner.
• Complies with measures for preventing exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• Attends monthly departmental meetings and in-services.
• Participates in the Hazardous Material Program; hazards include exposure to blood and body fluids, possible communicable diseases, sharp objects and instruments, assorted chemicals and gasses as listed in the Hazardous Materials Program Manual.
• Complies with established Safety and Patient Safety Program practices.
• Perform other incidental and related duties, as required and/or assigned.
• Develops an understanding of responsibilities for recognizing patient abuse and follows policy for making appropriate referrals/interventions.
• Develops an understanding of responsibilities for participation in Performance Improvement activities and participates in such activities.
• Limits access to protected health information (PHI) to the information reasonably necessary to do the job, and shares such information only on a need-to-know basis for work purposes.
  (Access to verbal, written and electronic PHI for this job has been determined based on job level and job responsibility within the organization. Computerized access to PHI for this job has been determined as described above and is controlled via user ID and password.)