Nursing Assistant

Provides basic nursing care to patients, and assists in complex nursing care. Participates in quality assessment and continuous quality improvement activities. Complies with all appropriate safety and infection control standards. Participates in quality assessment and continuous quality improvement activities. Performs all job duties and responsibilities in a courteous and customer-focused manner according to the Hurley Family Standards of Behavior. Works under the supervision of a Nurse Manager or registered professional nurse or designee who reviews work for conformance to established standards.

Responsibilities

1. Assists patients with or provides personal care such as use of bedpan or urinal and condom catheter, peri care, and foley catheter care.
2. Assists patients with or provides personal hygiene care; e.g., bathing including sitz baths, feeding, shampooing hair, shaving, and oral care.
3. Provides emotional support to patient as directed and safety/comfort measures including range of motion, massaging, turning, repositioning, and positions patients with proper body mechanics and applying/utilizing special equipment as necessary. Transfers patients and assists patients in mobility with use of gait belt. Supports licensed staff with patient care activities.
4. Documents in EHR patient care rendered per Medical Center policy. Reports and records patient's pain. Performs/monitors and records temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure and weight including using cardiac scales. Records intake and output. Performs waive tests; e.g., glucometer, urine dipstick, and hemocult slides including control test. Reports changes in vital signs or condition and significant signs, symptoms, or reactions to licensed staff assigned to patient.
5. Performs basic nursing procedures such as obtaining cultures, thermal applications, dressing care, nonsterile soaks, wound irrigation, or application of restraints as directed.
6. Administers enemas. Removes fecal impactions. Inserts and removes rectal tubes. Inserts and discontinues foley catheter. Applies suction to nasogastric tube. Removes nasogastric tube. Prepares/hangs feeding bags and labels tubing for adult patients. Applies ostomy appliances.
7. Collects, labels and records specimens and cultures and delivers to laboratory. Performs and records simple tests on patient specimens as directed.
8. Provides some types of respiratory care; e.g. oral and tracheostomy suction and tracheostomy care (establish trach only) for adult patients and sustained maximal inspiration lung exercises assistance as assigned.
9. Measures output from hemovac/Jackson Pratt tube, nasogastric suction canister, chest tubes, foley catheter, ostomy appliances. Reprimes hemovac/Jackson Pratt. Applies/reattaches cardiac monitor leads. Removes oxygen tubing/humidifier after discontinuation.
10. Performs post mortem care.
11. Applies and removes splints, anti-embolism stockings, sequential compression devices and restraints. All under direction or delegation of licensed staff.
12. Assists patients with dressing, use of equipment, donning and doffing support clothing, orthotic/ prosthetic devices, and/ or protective devices. Maintains bucks, skeletal and pelvic traction.
13. Sets up for admissions and transfers. Ambulates and transfers patients with use of gait belt. Initiates mobilization of patients per therapy orders and HMC mobilization policy. Delivers equipment, supplies, etc. and transports patients.
14. Maintains cleanliness of patient-care units, clean and dirty utility rooms, work areas, and equipment such as glucometers, refrigerators, and sterile services carts. Removes equipment from hallways and closets. Removes and replaces filled needle boxes. Stores supplies.
15. May access computer/information system for input of documentation or retrieval of information.
16. Attends education/developmental programs as assigned. Assists in orientation of newly assigned personnel.
17. Demonstrates effective judgment and ability to understand, react effectively, and treat (if appropriate) unique needs of patient age groups served.
18. Able to work well with patients, visitors, care partners, physicians, co-workers, and other departments. Able to work well with the public and be tactful in often hectic and stressful situations, able to diffuse escalating behavior and maintain calm atmosphere.
19. Performs other related duties as assigned. Utilizes new improvements and/or technologies that relate to job assignment.

Qualifications

• High school graduate and/or GED equivalent.
• Successful completion of a formal nursing assistant training -OR- patient care technician program including six (6) months of satisfactory clinical experience.
• Demonstrated clinical competency.
• Knowledge of aseptic techniques.
• Physical and emotional health sufficient to enable employee to perform the normally assigned duties of the position.
• Ability to read, write, and comprehend English, and to clearly and accurately document activities.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to keep required records and make reports.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations such as percentages and unit conversions.
• Ability to maintain an empathetic attitude toward patients and harmonious working relationships with Medical Center staff and the public.
• Successful completion of Health Care Provider Basic Life Support (BLS).

NOTE: Those employees with three years (6240 hours) experience as a Nursing Assistant at Hurley Medical Center whose most recent performance evaluation is satisfactory or above and whose rating for clinical excellence is at least satisfactory will be designated as Senior Nursing Assistant, allocated to pay level 12. Those employees with less than three (3) years (6240 hours) experience as a Nursing Assistant at Hurley Medical Center will be designated as Nursing Assistant, allocated to pay level 10. Those employees in the Nursing Assistant Trainee classification who have successfully completed the HMC six-month (1040 hours) training program will progress to the classification of Nursing Assistant, allocated to pay level 10.