Clinical Associate, Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit, Night Shift

WVU Medicine

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Associate performs direct and indirect patient-care activities under the supervision of a registered professional nurse. The role supports high-quality, cost-effective care through delegated tasks and proactively interacts with patients, families, and other customers to promote a family-centered experience. This position is in the Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit and is scheduled for night shift, 24 hours per week. The Clinical Associate provides basic physical care and assistance with activities of daily living; transports patients, specimens, and other items; performs assigned tests and routine phlebotomy where authorized; records vital signs and other measurements; and supports respiratory care and basic rehabilitation activities. The role also assists nurses and physicians with examinations and procedures, observes and promptly reports changes in a patient's condition, and helps maintain a clean, safe, well-functioning unit. Tasks are performed according to departmental policies, procedures, and the employee’s scope of practice.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Obtain Basic Life Support or HeartSaver First Aid certification within 30 days of hire.
Demonstrate competency in the use of Safe Patient Handling equipment.
Excellent communication skills and a strong customer-service orientation.
Experience dealing with multiple simultaneous demands.
Good time-management skills.
Meet the physical demands of the role, including lifting, moving, stooping, reaching, standing, walking, and handling materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds; pushing or pulling carts weighing up to 200 pounds; and sitting, walking, or standing for prolonged periods.
Use lift equipment and/or other patient-handling aids for transfers, lifts, and repositioning as indicated by the patient’s profile and applicable algorithms.

Nice To Haves

Prior patient-care experience.

Responsibilities

Provide basic physical care to promote patient comfort as directed by the Registered Nurse.
Assist assigned patients with activities of daily living in a timely manner, including making assigned beds.
Transport patients safely according to WVUH’s Safe Patient Handling Policy to tests and procedures, and escort patients for discharge.
Transport specimens and other items throughout the facility.
Perform assigned tests, such as glucose monitoring and urine or stool testing, and maintain quality-control tests and logs according to department policy. On the Subacute Unit, CNAs may not perform glucose monitoring.
Perform routine phlebotomy, excluding line draws, in departments designated by management.
Obtain and record assigned temperatures, pulse and respiratory rates, blood pressures, intake and output, weights, and abdominal girths according to departmental policy.
Set up equipment needed for oxygen administration and encourage use of the Incentive Spirometer according to Respiratory Care procedure.
Immediately report patient concerns and changes in condition to a registered nurse.
Prepare patients for examinations and diagnostic procedures according to departmental procedure.
Assist physicians and registered nurses with examinations and procedures.
Assist with basic rehabilitation and physical therapy activities, including active and passive range of motion and ambulation.
Communicate nutrition concerns to the RN, including poor appetite or a patient's stated lack of understanding of diet changes.
Provide total care within scope of practice, including vital signs and activities of daily living, when assigned sitter or constant-visual responsibilities.
Maintain a clean and safe environment to help prevent or control infections and protect patients, visitors, and employees.
Clean assigned unit equipment according to departmental procedures and promptly report necessary equipment repairs to appropriate personnel.
Assist with routine unit operations as directed or needed to support smooth communication and functioning.
Answer the telephone courteously and promptly, identifying self and unit.
Answer patient call bells courteously and relay messages to appropriate personnel.
Relay telephone, visitor, and patient messages accurately and promptly to appropriate persons.
Complete errands promptly as requested.
Handle limited medication access as applicable to unlicensed assistive personnel, including transporting non-controlled substances at the request of a licensed care provider.
Remove out-of-date items.