Health Care Assistant (CNA), Surgical ICU

University of Utah Health•Salt Lake City, UT

About The Position

This position provides patient care at the direction of a Registered Nurse, with direct contact with patients and their families and indirect care activities that support patients in their environment. It may involve accessing and administering medications within the incumbent’s scope of practice and in accordance with state law. The role supports University of Utah Health, a Level 1 Trauma Center and academic health system recognized for research, quality, and patient experience. Work takes place in a 24/7 healthcare environment, with schedules that may rotate and include variable hours, nights, weekends, and holidays according to staffing and patient-care needs.

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 and 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 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.
Current University of Utah Health RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential, to be obtained within 30 days of hire.
Nursing-program enrollees must obtain an RN license within three months of completing the RN program; if not obtained by then, they must immediately obtain a current CNA certification.
Employees in this job code who hold an RN license must also hold a CNA certification if they remain in the role longer than three months.
Additional license requirements may be determined by the hiring department.
Ability to meet the position's working-condition and physical-demand requirements, with or without accommodation.

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 care activities, including maintaining a clean, efficient, and safe environment; companion care; housekeeping; patient transport; and chaperoning physicians during examinations and procedures as needed.
Perform unit-specific and 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, including entering downtime occurrence orders and their 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 rhythm variations that may indicate heart ischemia or acute myocardial infarction.
Maintain regular, reliable, and punctual attendance during assigned shifts.