Nursing Attendant

Montefiore Health System•New York, NY

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nursing Attendant is a member of a team dedicated to providing high-quality care and services to patients. The role assists with maintaining a safe, clean, and functional environment; supporting dietary aspects of care; facilitating communication; answering phones; transporting patients; and assisting visitors. The Nursing Attendant contributes to patient-focused care within the Patient Unit by performing assigned care and support activities for patients across neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and elderly populations.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent.
Effective written and oral English communication skills.
Graduate of a State Certified Program or one year of clinical experience as a nursing student or foreign graduate nurse.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.

Nice To Haves

Vocational or technical training preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist or supervise patients with activities of daily living, including eating, bathing, and ambulating, as appropriate to the patient population.
Meet patients’ hygiene and grooming needs, including bathing, shaving, hair care, oral care, and perineal care.
Support patient mobility through range-of-motion activities, ambulation assistance, transfers, and application of splints and braces.
Help maintain skin integrity through pressure-relieving devices, turning and positioning, and assistance with pressure ulcer care.
Provide comfort measures, including bed making, positioning, body alignment, and back rubs.
Assist with elimination needs, including cleansing enemas, urinary catheter care, output measurement and documentation, and bowel and bladder retraining according to policy and procedure.
Help maintain a safe patient environment through observation, alternative interventions, safety and environmental rounds, and prompt response to call bells.
Maintain a quiet environment to support patient rest and sleep.
Follow body substance precautions and institutional infection-control policies and procedures.
Obtain and document vital signs as directed, including temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, pain score, height, and weight; report variations from baseline to the RN and document notification.
Obtain urine, stool, and sputum specimens and document as required; notify the RN if collection is not completed.
Administer hot and cold applications as directed.
Assist with patient preparation for surgery and diagnostic or therapeutic treatments, and provide assistance during emergency procedures as directed.
Provide post-mortem care and transport patients to the morgue as assigned.
Admit patients to the unit upon arrival, provide comfort supplies, complete the unit orientation checklist, and prepare patient clothing and property lists.
Pack and transport patients’ belongings to the appropriate area when patients are transferred or expire.
Provide care in accordance with policies and procedures concerning side rails, physical restraints, periodic awareness, and constant observation.
Maintain a clean and neat environment, including disposal of soiled linen, and maintain utility and service rooms as assigned.
Protect patients from injury by maintaining a safe environment appropriate to the patient’s age and population.
Accompany admitted or transferred patients to the nursing unit and transport patients to and from diagnostic procedures and other hospital locations.
Transport patient medical records to designated hospital locations as directed by the RN.
Replace or restock supplies and transport supplies and equipment within the assigned clinical unit; perform equipment checks as assigned.
Answer patient call lights immediately and assist patients, families, visitors, and coworkers who request assistance.
Refer questions from patients and families to the RN; report observations and changes in patient condition to the RN and seek clarification as needed.
Maintain patient confidentiality and privacy, document accurately in the medical record, and communicate courteously and appropriately with patients and families.
Introduce self to patients, families, and visitors at the beginning of the shift and as indicated, and update the whiteboard daily.
Work collaboratively as a member of the unit team and extend assistance to other departments and disciplines.
Follow the dress code, maintain a professional demeanor, complete assignments within scheduled time, and comply with attendance, sick-call, meal-break, and time-off practices.
Participate in assigned performance-improvement activities and educational programs related to practice.
Comply with Nursing policies and procedures, use resources efficiently, report unsafe conditions to the RN, and respect patient rights as outlined in the Patient Bill of Rights.
Perform other related duties as assigned by the Administrative Nurse Manager, Assistant Administrative Nurse Manager, Patient Care Coordinator, or charge nurse.