Nursing Assistant Certified Medical Surgical

Mount Nittany Health•State College, PA

About The Position

The Nursing Assistant Certified Medical Surgical provides direct and indirect patient care under the direct supervision of a professional nurse. The role is accountable to the Unit Director/Manager or designee and, in their absence, to the Nursing Supervisor, Charge Nurse, or Nursing House Supervisor. Work assignments are given and checked regularly. Direct patient care includes providing hygiene and activities-of-daily-living assistance; helping with patient transport, admissions, discharges, and transfers; responding to call lights; measuring and recording vital signs, height, weight, and intake and output; distributing nourishment; assisting with directed treatments; supporting patient belongings and equipment needs; performing bedside glucose testing; and recording and reporting care, complaints, and observations. The assistant also helps maintain a safe, orderly patient environment and reports changes in patient function to the appropriate nursing staff. Indirect patient care includes supporting team members with supplies, specimens, charts, requisitions, errands, instrument cleaning, telephone messages, and documentation. Other related duties may be assigned. The position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

High school graduate or GED.
Nursing Assistant Certification required; certified Nursing Assistants must be certified by the state of Pennsylvania.
Meet the American Heart Association's standards for Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) and renew BLS every two years.
Update knowledge and skills on an ongoing basis, including successful completion and maintenance of job-related competencies.
Effectively function as a team member and liaison between patient and staff.
Support and encourage harmonious communication.
Use verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills.
Demonstrate mental and emotional tolerance, tact, sensitivity, and sound judgment.
Communicate in a highly professional manner at all times.

Nice To Haves

Completion of a patient care training course.
Previous experience in a position involving patient care.

Responsibilities

Provide basic hygienic care, including bathing, oral hygiene, and skin care.
Prepare patients for transport and transport them as directed.
Assist patients with activities of daily living, including getting in and out of bed, feeding, and dressing.
Respond to patient call lights and requests, and relay messages appropriately to the team leader or charge nurse.
Take and record vital signs, height, and weight as directed.
Change linens as needed.
Measure and record intake and output correctly.
Distribute drinking water and nourishment to patients.
Administer sitz baths and hot or cold applications as directed.
Assist with admission, discharge, and transfer processes as directed.
Assist patients with the handling and care of clothing and personal property, including dentures, glasses, hearing aids, and prosthetic devices.
Label patient belongings and personal care items.
Record and report hygiene care provided, patient complaints, and observations.
Set up equipment when trained.
Perform pre-operative shaving as directed.
Perform bedside glucose testing.
Maintain a safe environment by keeping side rails up after care, call bells and needed articles within reach, rooms neat and uncluttered, and hallways clear.
Report changes in a patient's physical or mental level of function to the team leader or charge nurse.
Cooperate with team members in resupplying stock, delivering specimens to the lab, assembling charts, delivering requisitions, and running errands.
Clean instruments.
Answer the telephone and relay messages.
Document care provided.
Perform other assigned duties.