Discharge Unit

UPMC•Cumberland, MD

About The Position

UPMC Western Maryland is hiring a full-time Certified Nursing Assistant to support its Admission/Discharge Unit. The position helps keep patients comfortable during admission and ensures patients being discharged have accurate, up-to-date vital signs. Duties also include removing IVs and ensuring patient needs are met before discharge. This is a day-shift position that does not require weekends or holidays. The employee provides patient care and assists with procedures, activities of daily living, and physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies. The role includes UPMC nursing core nursing assistant responsibilities and department-specific skills, documentation, communication with the care team, and support for unit operations and quality initiatives. Patient care technician competencies and advanced skills are achieved and maintained according to department needs.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
One year of general healthcare experience; or six months of experience as a UPMC Nursing Assistant/CNA with PCT competency achieved within 120 days of hire, transfer, or promotion; or enrollment in a PT, OT, PA, or related healthcare training program with at least one clinical rotation completed; or a bachelor's degree in a health sciences field.
Successful completion of the UPMC patient care technician class.
Successful completion of basic information system training.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification.
Achieve and maintain required competencies and perform applicable advanced skills based on department operational needs.

Nice To Haves

Microcomputer experience.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic certification, or current enrollment in an EMT or Paramedic program.

Responsibilities

Keep admission patients comfortable and ensure discharge patients have accurate, up-to-date vital signs.
Remove IVs and ensure patient needs are met before discharge.
Document in the medical record according to established procedures, complete assigned work promptly and productively, and perform department clerical functions as needed.
Support departmental changes, projects, and quality initiatives; take responsibility for assignments and contribute to efficient department operations.
Follow patient-care and hospital-information policies, including safety policies and standard precautions.
Communicate clearly and effectively with members of the health care team, demonstrate cultural awareness, and maintain accountable, respectful working relationships.
Provide instruction to patients and families under the direction of an RN; apply, monitor, or remove restraints according to physician or hospital protocol.
Receive feedback and direction, identify learning needs, improve knowledge and performance, request help with prioritization as needed, and participate in self-review.
Report equipment malfunctions and coordinate effectively with other departments.
Contribute to unit activities, including responding to call lights and telephones, passing meal trays, and transporting patients.
Perform nursing assistant responsibilities such as activities of daily living, blood glucose testing, weights, vital signs, intake and output, specimen collection, Foley care, and patient transport.
Perform department-identified or advanced skills as required, which may include phlebotomy, 12-lead EKGs, simple dressings, Foley catheter removal, point-of-care testing, bladder scans, straight catheterization, IV catheter removal, telemetry monitor application or reapplication, restraint placement or removal, and NG tube clamping or removal.
Assist with patient procedures and activities of daily living, physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies; report patient status changes and provide feedback to the RN.
Perform assigned work in accordance with system-wide competencies and behaviors, and perform other duties as assigned.