Na/Cna, Gpu

Heywood Hospital•Gardner, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides patient care based on standards of care, standards of practice, protocols, and established policies and procedures under the direction of a licensed nurse. The role involves collecting basic health data, assisting patients with daily activities, and ensuring patient dignity and positive self-regard. Accurate documentation, maintaining a safe work environment, and effective communication with the healthcare team are essential. The role also includes specific duties related to the Geriatric Psychiatric Unit (GPU), such as ensuring patients are appropriately dressed and groomed, transporting patients, laundering clothing, performing safety checks, participating in de-escalation, providing close supervision, and monitoring patient activity in groups and the Activities Room. The position requires an understanding of the needs of the geriatric population with psychiatric illness and assisting patients with ambulation.

Requirements

High School Diploma preferred
Current Certified Nursing Assistant certification required -OR- A minimum of 75 hours in an accredited nursing program to include completion of first rotation -OR- Active EMT or Paramedic Certification - OR - Active Patient Care Technician/Assistant Certification -OR- Active Home Health Aide Certification
AHA CPR certification obtained within 60-days of hire
Successful completion of a Nurse Aide program OR previous Massachusetts CNA licensure for Nurse Aide or equivalent from out of state.
1 Yr experience working in a long term care facility

Responsibilities

Provides patient care based on standards of care, standards of practice, protocols, and established policies and procedures under direction of a licensed nurse.
Collects basic health data as directed by a licensed nurse.
Assists patients with activities of daily care (e.g. personal hygiene, toileting, nutrition, ambulation, etc).
Appropriately prioritizes patient care (e.g. seeks assistance as needed from appropriate resources, recognizes need for emergency intervention, etc.)
Respects each patient as an individual; provides care that fosters the patient’s sense of dignity and positive self-regard.
Provides thorough, timely, and accurate documentation of all pertinent patient according to established standards.
Maintains clean and safe work environment (identifies and/or removes safety hazards).
Provides timely and thorough information on assigned patients to supervising licensed nurse and other health care team members.
Participates in learning for colleagues and self (attends educational programs, in-services, assist with orientation of new staff).
Proactively identifies risk to patient safety and identifies opportunities to reduce medical/health care errors (i.e. appropriate reporting of errors/incidents).
Ensures that GPU patients are appropriately dressed in street clothes and are well groomed.
Transports patients to other departments for scheduled tests.
Launders patient clothing and keeps it in good condition for patient use while hospitalized.
Performs patient safety checks on the unit.
Participates in the redirection and/or de-escalation of the disruptive or potentially violent patient.
Performs close supervision (1:1) of patients as assigned and monitors patients’ needs during this time.
Demonstrates an understanding of the needs of the geriatric population with psychiatric illness.
Monitors patient activity for overall safety in the Activities Room of GPU.
Participates in scheduled patient groups and activities as assigned.
Assists patients with ambulation as needed to maintain or improve their functional ability.