Health Care Assistant

University of Utah Health•Salt Lake City, UT

19h

About The Position

The Health Care Assistant provides direct and indirect patient care at the direction of a Registered Nurse. The role involves direct contact with patients and their families and may include accessing and administering medications within the employee’s scope of practice and in accordance with state law. The position supports patient care and the operation of the unit in a busy healthcare environment.

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 take 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 RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system, to be obtained within 30 days of hire.
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 role longer than three months.
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 educating and teaching patients and significant others 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.
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 to order 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.
Observe cardiac monitors and notify nursing and medical staff of abnormal heart rhythm variances that may indicate heart ischemia or acute myocardial infarction.
Work assigned rotating schedules, which may include variable hours, weekends, nights, and holidays, and maintain regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.