Certified Patient Care Support Assistant, Orthopedic Surgery, Part Time, Variable

Prisma Health•Maryville, TN

About The Position

Provides basic, hands-on patient care and unit support under the supervision of a licensed nurse. The role emphasizes patient-centered care, safe patient handling, electronic health record (EHR) documentation, infection prevention, communication, and teamwork. It supports inpatient nursing units and the Emergency Department with non-hazardous patient care duties appropriate for 17-year-old minors. The assistant helps patients with activities of daily living, records routine patient information in the EHR after training, supports safe mobility and nutrition, responds to patient and family needs, and maintains a clean and safe care environment. The role also includes unit support, certain non-invasive technical tasks with training and supervision, infection prevention, participation in safety and quality activities, required education, and Patient Care Observer/sitter duties when assigned. Clinical competencies, including age-specific competencies, may vary by unit. Employees must demonstrate the knowledge and skill needed to care appropriately for patients served on their assigned unit. This is a non-management role reporting to a supervisor, manager, director, or executive.

Requirements

Completion of a high school-based Certified Nursing Assistant program.
Must be age 17 at time of employment and enrolled in a high school health sciences program and/or approved health sciences Work-Based Learning (WBL) program.
No experience required.
CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certification.
Current BLS/CPR certification from the American Heart Association.
Basic computer and EHR data-entry skills.
Mathematical skills for recording measurements and intake/output.
Working knowledge of basic patient care equipment.
Effective communication, customer service, cultural sensitivity, and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with activities of daily living, including bathing, grooming, oral hygiene, dressing, toileting, continence care, and comfort measures while maintaining dignity and privacy.
Obtain and accurately record routine patient information, including vital signs, height, weight, and intake/output, in the EHR after training.
Support safe mobility and positioning, including repositioning, turning, ambulation with a gait belt, and transfers using approved practices and equipment under supervision.
Support nutrition and hydration by delivering trays, assisting with feeding as appropriate, documenting intake, and communicating needs or concerns to licensed nursing staff.
Respond promptly to call lights, communicate in a culturally sensitive manner, engage families as appropriate, and escalate concerns to the licensed nurse.
Maintain a clean, organized, and safe patient and unit environment; stock supplies; perform visual routine equipment checks; and promptly report safety or equipment issues.
Perform unit support tasks such as answering phones and intercoms, relaying messages, updating patient flow boards, escorting or transporting patients as assigned, and assisting with non-hazardous workflow needs.
Perform non-invasive technical tasks with training and supervision, such as assisting with EKG lead placement and urine specimen collection, in accordance with policy.
Follow infection-prevention practices, including hand hygiene, standard precautions, appropriate PPE use, and cleaning non-sterile surfaces; observe restrictions applicable to minor employees.
Participate in safety huddles, quality improvement activities, and required education, including HIPAA privacy/security and cybersecurity awareness.
Perform Patient Care Observer or sitter duties when appropriate and assigned.
Demonstrate the knowledge and skill necessary to provide appropriate care to patients served on the assigned unit.