Health Care Assistant

University of Utah Health•Salt Lake City, UT

About The Position

This position provides direct and indirect patient care under 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 in accordance with state law. The position also performs unit-specific clerical and technical duties as needed. Work schedules may rotate and include variable hours, nights, weekends, and holidays to meet the needs of a 24/7 health system. Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance during assigned shifts is an essential function. University of Utah Health is a patient-focused organization whose mission is to enhance health and well-being through patient care, research, and education. The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center with five hospitals and eleven clinics, and is recognized for academic research, quality standards, and patient experience.

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; must be obtained within 30 days of hire.
Must have 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.
Additional license requirements may be 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, current CNA certification must be obtained immediately. Employees in this job code who have an RN license must also have CNA certification if they remain in the role longer than three months.
Must be able to meet the stated working-condition and physical-demand requirements with or without accommodation, including conditions that may exert up to 100 pounds and consistently require moving patients or objects.

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, 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 duties and additional clerical duties as needed, including stocking and maintaining clerical and patient supplies.
Communicate with hospital staff, physicians, patients, families, and visitors.
When working in a clerical role, process paper orders during downtime and enter the downtime occurrence order and its start and stop times in each patient record.
May process electronic requests for medical treatments and tests, retrieve patient test and lab results, schedule appointments, maintain patient records and unit activity boards, and manage admissions, discharges, and transfers according to unit standards.
May observe cardiac monitors and notify nursing and medical staff of abnormal heart rhythm variances that indicate heart ischemia or acute myocardial infarction.
Work assigned rotating schedules, potentially including variable hours, nights, weekends, and holidays, and maintain regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.