Health Care Assistant (CNA), Surgical ICU

University of Utah Health•Salt Lake City, UT

About The Position

University of Utah Health seeks a patient-focused Health Care Assistant to provide direct patient care at the direction of a Registered Nurse, along with indirect care activities that support patients and their environment. The role involves direct contact with patients and families and may include accessing and administering medications within the incumbent’s scope of practice and according to state law. The position is in the Surgical ICU at University of Utah Health, an academic health system with five hospitals and eleven clinics. The role may require rotating and variable schedules, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to meet the demands of 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 multiline 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.
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 Nursing Assistant certification, 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 nursing-program enrollees, an RN license must be obtained within three months of completing the RN program; otherwise, a current CNA certification must be obtained immediately. Individuals in this job code who have an RN license must also have CNA certification if they remain in the role longer than three months.

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.
Support indirect patient care by maintaining a clean, efficient, and safe environment; providing companion care and housekeeping; transporting patients; 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 the downtime occurrence order and its start and stop times in each patient record.
Process electronic requests for medical treatments and tests, retrieve patient test and laboratory results, schedule appointments, and maintain patient records and unit activity boards as needed.
Manage admissions, discharges, and transfers according to unit standards.
Observe cardiac monitors and notify nursing and medical staff of abnormal rhythm variances that may indicate heart ischemia or acute myocardial infarction.