Health Care Assistant (CNA), Acute Internal Med E50

University of Utah Health•Salt Lake City, UT

About The Position

This position provides direct and indirect patient care at the direction of a Registered Nurse. The incumbent interacts with patients and their families, supports patients in their care environment, and may access and administer medications within their scope of practice and according to state law. The role supports University of Utah Health’s mission through patient care and requires a commitment to compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality, and trust. The position may perform patient-care, clerical, and unit-specific duties. Depending on department operations and patient-care needs, the employee must be available for rotating schedules that may include variable hours, nights, weekends, and holidays in a 24/7 health system. Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance during assigned shifts is an essential function.

Requirements

Demonstrated availability to work variable and rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, in a 24/7 patient-care environment.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the job.
Demonstrated human-relations and effective communication skills.
Demonstrated customer-service skills.
Ability to work in a busy environment.
Ability to use a multi-line phone system and hospital paging system as needed.
Ability to initiate appropriate action in emergency or crisis situations by evaluating the situation and determining the applicable protocol.
Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system, to be obtained within 30 days of hire.
One of the following: current certification as a Nursing Assistant with the State of Utah; or completion of the first round of clinical training and current enrollment in an approved nursing education program.
Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.
For employees enrolled in a nursing program, an RN license must be obtained within three months of completing the RN program; otherwise, a current CNA certification must be obtained immediately. Employees in this job code who hold an RN license must also have CNA certification if they remain in the position longer than three months.
Ability to meet the position’s physical and working-condition requirements with or without an accommodation.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with feeding, drinking, ambulating, grooming, toileting, dressing, and socializing, and perform unit-specific technical skills.
Reinforce or assist with patient and significant-other education as delegated by a professional care provider.
Collect, report, and document data related to direct patient-care activities.
Support indirect patient-care activities, including maintaining a clean, efficient, and safe environment; companion care; housekeeping; patient transportation; and chaperoning physicians during examinations and procedures as needed.
Perform unit-specific and additional clerical duties as needed, including stocking and maintaining clerical and patient supplies.
Communicate with hospital staff, physicians, patients, families, and visitors.
Process paper orders during downtime when working in a clerical role, and enter the downtime occurrence order and associated start and stop times in each patient record.
Process electronic requests to order medical treatments and tests, retrieve patient test and laboratory results, and schedule patient appointments as needed.
Maintain patient records and unit activity boards as needed.
Manage patient admission, discharge, and transfer functions according to unit standards.
Observe the cardiac monitor and notify nursing and medical staff of abnormal heart-rhythm variances indicating heart ischemia or acute myocardial infarction.