Clinical Assistant

Forrest General Hospital•Hattiesburg, MS

About The Position

The Clinical Assistant participates in providing total direct patient care as part of a team, working therapeutically with a community of emotionally and/or chemically dependent patients. The position is managed by the Patient Care Manager and works under the daily direct supervision of a Registered Nurse. The Clinical Assistant provides basic patient care and procedures, observes patients to maintain safety, assists with activities of daily living, records vital signs, and supports team objectives. The role also includes transporting patients to and from activities in a timely manner and observing patients taking medications, then documenting accordingly. Care should be appropriate to the ages of the patients served and guided by principles of growth and development. The Clinical Assistant assesses information reflecting a patient’s status and identifies and provides appropriate care. Other duties may be assigned as needed. Performance expectations include thorough, concise, and timely documentation, shift reports, and verbal communication; sharing pertinent patient information with health care team members; maintaining clinical skills and completing assigned competencies, training, and certifications; and performing technical skills required for the unit’s patient population. These skills include obtaining blood sugars, applying restraints, suicide precautions, bathing, dressing, ambulating, and feeding patients. The Clinical Assistant must also safely position patients or assist nurses in doing so, using devices such as walkers and crutches. The role requires effective, timely communication, adherence to organizational values and standards for customer service, safety, infection control, and compliance, and consistent compliance with patient care and FGH policies, procedures, and standards of care.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Ability to work therapeutically with emotionally and/or chemically dependent patients.
Ability to provide care appropriate to the ages of patients served, using knowledge of growth and development principles.
Ability to assess patient-status information and identify appropriate care.
Ability to perform clinical and clerical tasks, cooperate with others, and demonstrate initiative.
Good verbal and written communication skills.
Sensitivity to the needs of others and good interpersonal skills.
Basic Life Support certification required within 30 days of employment.
Handle with Care certification required within 30 days of employment.
Restraint and Seclusion Training required within 30 days of employment.

Nice To Haves

Two years of experience in a health care setting preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide basic patient care and procedures as part of a team.
Observe patients and maintain patient safety.
Assist patients with physical and emotional activities of daily living.
Record vital signs.
Help meet team objectives.
Transport patients to and from activities in a timely manner.
Observe patients taking medications and document accordingly.
Assess information reflecting patients’ status and identify and provide appropriate care.
Complete thorough, concise, and timely documentation and shift reports, and communicate verbally with the care team.
Communicate pertinent patient information to health care team members.
Maintain clinical skills and complete ongoing competencies, assigned training, and certifications.
Perform unit-specific technical skills, including obtaining blood sugars, restraints, suicide precautions, bathing, dressing, ambulating, and feeding patients.
Safely position patients or assist nurses with positioning using a variety of devices, walkers, and crutches.
Follow patient care and FGH policies, procedures, and standards of care, and promote customer service, safety, infection control, and compliance standards.
Perform other duties as assigned on an as-needed basis.