Certified Nursing Assistant

SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Registered Nurse and in accordance with hospital and departmental policies and procedures, assists in caring for patients and/or their families from admission through discharge.

Definition:
A Nursing Assistant is a paraprofessional trained to provide personal care, related health care, and assistance to individuals who are sick, disabled, or infirm and who are residents of or receiving services from health care facilities or agencies licensed by the state. This role requires a valid Nursing Assistant license issued by the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role-model the organization’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, which guide our everyday actions with patients, customers, and one another.

In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors, which define how we work together and achieve results. These include:

• Instill Trust and Value Differences
• Patient and Community Focus
• Collaborate

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborates with the Registered Nurse to organize work and establish priorities.
• Under the supervision of the Registered Nurse, performs the following:

Clinical and Patient Care Duties

• Provides personal care skills.

• Performs basic Nursing Assistant skills as outlined by the Rhode Island Department of Health Professional Licensing and Facility Regulation.

• Performs rehabilitation skills, including assisting with activities of daily living and ambulating patients as appropriate.

• Maintains a safe environment by identifying and reporting unsafe conditions or situations; reports malfunctioning equipment and removes it from service when necessary.

• Recognizes and reports signs and symptoms; communicates all pertinent patient observations to the Registered Nurse.

• Maintains quality assurance and infection control standards in accordance with hospital and departmental policies, procedures, and objectives.

• Accurately documents patient care data in the electronic health record (EHR), patient care flowsheets, and clinical data records.

• Demonstrates the ability to perform responsibilities during emergency and code situations.

• May function as a patient observer.

• Performs other related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Knowledge

• Current Rhode Island license as a Nursing Assistant.
• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Ability to perform basic computer skills.
• Certified in American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS).
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients across the lifespan, taking into account aging processes, stages of human development, and cultural considerations throughout the care process.

Experience

• One year of experience as a Nursing Assistant preferred.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONS

• Works in healthcare environments including acute care hospitals, physician offices, and ancillary healthcare settings.
• Requires prolonged sitting, standing, and walking.
• Involves repeated bending, squatting, and stooping.
• May be required to lift and/or reposition patients and equipment.

INDEPENDENT ACTION

• Works under the supervision of the Registered Nurse within the scope of hospital and departmental policies and practices, as well as Rhode Island Department of Health Professional Licensing and Facility Regulation.
• Refers complex or unclear issues to the supervisor when clarification of policies or procedures is required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• None