Hospice Nursing Assistant

UPMC•Williamsport, PA

About The Position

UPMC Family Hospice is hiring a Nursing Assistant to provide direct patient care at The Gatehouse, an inpatient hospice facility. The role works night shifts on a rotating schedule: 32 hours one week from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and 36 hours the next week from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Under the direction of an RN, the Nursing Assistant supports patients with activities of daily living and other nursing-assistant duties, helps maintain a safe and organized care environment, and assists with supplies, equipment, and unit activities. The position also involves documenting care, communicating patient status and learning needs, following safety and patient-care policies, and providing companionship or supervision when required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Successful completion of the UPMC nursing assistant training program.
Knowledge of body mechanics and transfer techniques.
CPR or Basic Life Support (BLS) certification meeting AHA standards, including didactic and skills-demonstration components, required within 30 days of hire.
Act 33 with renewal, Act 34, and OAPSA clearances.
Work permit required if under 18 years of age.

Nice To Haves

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct patient care under RN direction, including bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating, turning, and repositioning patients.
Perform nursing-assistant core duties including point-of-care testing and blood glucose checks, weights, vital signs, intake and output, urine specimen collection, Foley care, telemetry monitor application or reapplication, and patient safety and hospital-acquired-condition prevention activities.
Apply, monitor, and remove restraints according to physician or hospital protocol, and provide diversional activities to reduce or prevent restraint use.
Maintain a safe, clean, and organized patient-care environment by completing safety checks, cleaning department-specific equipment and rooms, changing bed linens, emptying linen hampers, keeping hallways clear, and returning equipment.
Acquire and distribute supplies and equipment, perform messenger functions, order or charge and credit supplies, set up patient-care equipment within the role's scope, and stock patient rooms and unit supply areas.
Deliver patient nourishments, fill water pitchers, distribute patient mail, pass meal trays, respond to call lights and telephones, and transport patients, including intra-hospital transport using ticket-to-ride procedures.
Provide feedback to the RN about patient care and report changes in patient status.
Communicate learning needs to the unit director or direct leader, seek assistance with planning and prioritizing activities when needed, accept feedback and direction, and participate in self-review as requested.
Communicate clearly and effectively with members of the healthcare team and maintain productive, professional, respectful working relationships.
Support workplace safety and demonstrate understanding of cultural diversity, horizontal violence, and impairment in the health professions.
Suggest and support departmental changes, take responsibility for assignments, and contribute to the efficient functioning of the department.
Report equipment malfunctions to the appropriate department and use appropriate communication strategies.
Document in the medical record according to established procedures and complete clerical functions as needed.
Follow safety policies and procedures, including standard precautions and bloodborne-pathogen exposure procedures, and comply with policies regarding patient care and hospital-related information.
Respond to emergent situations within the scope of the nursing assistant role and provide one-on-one companionship or supervision when required.
Limit medication access to distributing medication to the nurse.