Intermediate Nursing Assistant

Westchester Medical Center•Valhalla, NY

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of a Registered Professional Nurse, an Intermediate Nursing Aide provides direct patient care to an assigned group of patients, prepares patients for treatment and procedures, and assists in the general care of patients. This position differs from Patient Care Technician in that the duties of this position do not include specialized unit competencies. Supervision is not typically a responsibility of this position, but may provide leadership for lower level staff or act as preceptor for new staff. Does related work as required.

Requirements

Good knowledge of accepted standards of caring for and comforting the sick, disabled, injured or others requiring mental health or personal assistance
Skill in customer service as it relates to the delivery of care
Ability to prioritize the delivery of patient care using time and resources efficiently
Ability to maintain good interpersonal relationships with patients, co-workers and all members of the healthcare team
Ability to handle individual and critical situations in an effective manner
Ability to maintain personal composure when unit priorities quickly change
Ability to follow oral and written instructions as well as communicating patient information both verbally and in writing
Computer literacy sufficient to perform the duties of the positon
Good judgment; tact; initiative; positive attitude; neatness; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position
Either: (a) certification as a Nurse Aide or Home Health Aide by the New York State Department of Health; (b) completion of an approved Nurse Aide or related patient care course; (c) completion of Medical-Surgical Nursing I and II or equivalent from an accredited Licensed Practical or Registered Nurse school; or (d) one year of patient care experience
BLS or CPR certification by the American Heart Association or American Red Cross must be obtained within 90 days of employment and maintained throughout subsequent employment in this title

Responsibilities

Provides care for assigned group of patients as described in individualized care plans and directed by a Registered Professional Nurse
Provides end of shift, face to face hand-off to incoming nursing aide
Reports to supervising nurse when duties are not able to be completed on the shift so that additional support can be arranged and the assignment completed prior to the next shift
Observes, records and reports general condition of patient
Identifies significant changes in patient's clinical status, such as increased confusion, restlessness or lethargy or decreased response, and communicates to appropriate member(s) of the treatment team
Performs non-sterile dressing changes, as directed by a Registered Professional Nurse
Meets patient need for comfort and safety by providing orientation, including maintaining time-appropriate lighting, providing orienting stimuli such as clock, TV, and newspaper, and providing eyeglasses and hearing aids, as needed
Assists with patient's nutritional and hydration needs, including setting up meal trays, feeding patient, filling out menu, providing supplemental nutrition as ordered by medical staff
Assists in patient admission by making sure the room is ready, welcoming patient to unit, and assisting with transfer and settling of patient into their room
Assists in patient discharge by assisting patient with gathering their belongings and removing any medical equipment at the direction of the supervising nurse
Obtains vital signs and weights, collects specimens and finger sticks, records all results in the EMR and immediately notifies the nurse of abnormal results
Maintains intake/output documentation, including emptying of urinal/foley, colostomy/ostomy, suction canisters, and meal/fluid intake
Assists patients with meals, sleeping and hygiene needs, such as bathing, shaving, shampooing and oral and denture care, and activities of daily living including dressing, ambulating, toileting and safe transfer techniques as directed by the supervising nurse
Assists Registered Professional Nurse with turning patients every 2 hours
Responds to intercom requests and obtains needed services from nurses, physicians, or other hospital personnel when necessary
Implements nursing safety interventions or the use of protective devices and equipment that maintain the safety of patients who have been identified as at risk for preventable injury
Transports patients to and from tests, procedures or therapeutic activities
Maintains and restocks nursing servers during each shift
Complies with hospital policies and procedures to ensure that patient's equipment, supplies and personal belongings are protected
Participates in classes, patient-centered conferences, workshops, in-service programs and unit and departmental meetings, as directed