Certified Nursing Assistant (.8)

Summary of Role

The Certified Nursing Assistant/Patient Care Assistant performs technical tasks that support clinical operations. The primary focus of this position is for assisting in the delivery of efficient, timely care to the patients of our center through assisting the clinical staff.

Must be willing to travel between satellite sites, work flexible hours and days as needed including evenings, competent with computer skills and complete other duties as assigned.

Key Responsibilities

The Certified Nursing Assistant/Patient Care Assistant contributes to organizational effectiveness by reporting for duty on time, adhering to Center policies/standards and completing related duties in an effective efficient manner. These duties include but are not limited to:

Perianesthesia Department / 23HR Extended Care Unit

• Participating in the patient care team to admit patients into the preop area, including initial vital signs and documentation, preliminary instructions to change clothes etc. and in general assist in the preoperative preparation of patients.
• In the postop areas, admit straight local patients into the step-down area of PACU, take vital signs, offer nourishment and give report to RN Charge Nurse or assigned lead.
• Participate in the documentation of interval vital signs for pre-op, and PACU patients, assist the patient with dressing for discharge and transport patient to car.
• Participate in data entry of pre-op charting and discharge information and other pertinent information into the information system. Retrieve information, if necessary from the information system.
• Assist with efficient turnover between patients. This includes but is not limited to removing soiled linen, wiping stretchers between patients, mopping floors and participating in the flow of patients in and out of The Orthopaedic Surgery Cener. 
• Participating in inventory and restocking of supplies and nourishment.
• Participating in other duties as assigned to create an environment of teamwork, high patient care standards and overall responsive, efficient care.

Operating Room (OR) Suite

• Participate in the use of the Steris machine for sterilization of instruments and other related equipment needed for surgical cases. Be willing to learn instrumentation needs to gain independence and enhance participation in the patient care team.
• Assist in the Inventory, ordering and stocking of supplies in OR Rooms and sterile supply room.
• Assist with the turnover and preparation of successive cases. This includes but is not limited to linen/trash removal, cleaning of OR bed and other flat surfaces, mopping of floor per policy, and room setup, i.e., setup of instruments and other equipment needs of surgical procedures.
• Retrieve, if needed, information from the information system if requested by nursing staff.
• Assist in other patient care activities of the OR, such as delivery of pathology specimens, errands, copying etc to enhance service to patients and physicians.

Qualifications

• Minimum one (1) year as a certified nursing assistant or patient care assistant in an accredited healthcare facility.
• Understanding of patients’ needs and how to handle those patients under stress.
• Able to seek assistance when patient’s condition is compromised.
• Adherence to standards of practice/infection control and universal precautions for perianesthesia department and operating room.
• Maintaining acceptable attendance and punctuality to maximize contribution to the organization in accordance with Center policy.
• Able to communicate well with the public, medical and nursing staff, has a caring attitude. Works as a team member.
• Can work effectively as a member of a team, with flexibility when the staffing needs of the departments change.
• BLS card required.
• Good visual and hearing acuity.

Education

• High school graduate or equivalency
• Certification as a Nursing Assistant in those states where available and may be required.

Work Environment

• Normal perioperative environment with exposure to chemical odors, cleaning solvents and other hazardous materials. Must follow established procedures to ensure safety.
• Exposure to possible injury when working with electrical equipment which require care and following proper safety procedures.
• In the care of patients, protection required against blood-borne pathogens.
• Ability to lift/transfer patients in excess of 100 pounds, which may require pushing, pulling, and utilizing a full range of body movements. Ability to stand walk, stoop, kneel, crouch and/or crawl.
• Ability to withstand prolonged periods of standing and walking. Periodic exposure to possible injury when lifting requires proper body mechanics and adherence to safety procedures.
• Must be willing to travel between satellite location, work flexible days and hours as needed, including evenings.