Health Care Assistant (CNA), Main OR

University of Utah Health•Salt Lake City, UT

About The Position

This position provides patient care under the direction of a Registered Nurse, with direct contact with patients and families and responsibility for indirect patient-care activities that support patients in their environment. The role may include accessing and administering medications within the employee’s scope of practice and in accordance with state law. For the Main Operating Room, the work differs from traditional CNA duties: it involves patient transport and limited other direct patient care, alongside operating-room support tasks such as cleaning suites, setting up and managing surgical tables and equipment, transporting specimens and blood products, processing scopes, stocking supplies, and assisting the surgical team. The position works closely with surgical nurses, surgical technologists, and surgeons in a teamwork environment. The position may require rotating schedules, variable hours, nights, weekends, and holidays to meet staffing and patient-care needs in a 24/7 health system. Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance during assigned shifts is essential. The work takes place in a healthcare setting and may involve exposure to infectious diseases and working around prisoners or behavioral-health patients. The position may require moving patients and equipment, with exertion of up to 100 pounds.

Requirements

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 Utah State Nursing Assistant certification, or completion of the first round of clinical training and current enrollment in an approved nursing education program.
If enrolled in a nursing program, obtain an RN license within three months of completing the RN program; if not obtained by then, immediately obtain current CNA certification.
Individuals in this job code who hold an RN license must also have CNA certification if they remain in the role longer than three months.
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 and ability to work in a busy environment.
Ability to use a multi-line phone system and hospital paging system as needed.
Ability to take appropriate action in emergency or crisis situations by evaluating the situation and determining the applicable protocol.
Ability to meet the position’s physical requirements with or without accommodation, including listening, pulling and/or pushing, standing, and walking.

Nice To Haves

Additional license requirements may be determined by the hiring department.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with feeding, drinking, ambulating, grooming, toileting, dressing, socializing, and 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; providing companion care; housekeeping; transporting patients; and chaperoning physicians during examinations and procedures as needed.
Perform unit-specific and clerical duties, 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, including documenting downtime occurrence orders and associated start and stop times in patient records.
Process electronic requests for medical treatments and tests and retrieve patient test and laboratory results as needed.
Schedule patient appointments as needed.
Maintain patient records and unit activity boards as needed.
Manage admissions, discharges, and transfers according to unit standards as needed.
Observe cardiac monitors and notify nursing and medical staff of abnormal heart-rhythm variances that may indicate ischemia or acute myocardial infarction.
For Main Operating Room duties, clean operating-room suites; set up and manage surgical tables and equipment; transport specimens, blood products, laboratory work, and patients; clean and process endoscopes and bronchoscopes; stock and organize operating-room suites; and gather supplies for the surgical team during surgery.