Patient Support Assistant/Unit Coordinator

OhioHealth•Columbus, OH

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Assist licensed clinicians in providing direct and indirect patient care in the Critical Limb Care Center, a hospital outpatient clinic located at Riverside Hospital. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with no weekends or holidays. The role combines unit reception and coordination with basic patient care support. Duties include assisting visitors and staff, entering orders and patient information, maintaining records and supplies, helping patients with activities of daily living, maintaining a safe and clean environment, collecting and documenting patient data, and performing basic nursing tasks delegated by a Registered Nurse. The assistant reports patient observations and concerns to the Registered Nurse and may support patient transport, telemetry monitoring, technology coordination, or the orientation of new nursing assistants. OhioHealth describes itself as a High Reliability Organization, so the role requires focus on safety, quality, and efficiency. Duties may change and are not limited to those listed; associates are expected to perform other duties as requested by a supervisor.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required, subject to the stated exceptions for certain 16- to 18-year-old individuals.
CPR certification from the American Red Cross required.
Ability to perform delegated nursing tasks within the stated limits: tasks must not require nursing judgment, assessment, complex observation, or critical decisions, and must be safe and have reasonably predictable results.
Competence using portable technology and handheld wireless devices for patient measurements, documentation, and point-of-care testing.
Focus on safety, quality, and efficiency.

Responsibilities

Serve as unit receptionist and assist hospital visitors and staff with information needs.
Enter physician orders into the hospital computer system, promptly process STAT and NOW orders, and notify the Registered Nurse about such orders.
Enter patient information into the hospital information system, including height, weight, and patient condition; enter or report patient transfers and discharges to hospital registration.
Process patient charges manually or through the hospital information system.
Maintain centralized and bedside medical records and prepare discharge charts.
Maintain clerical supplies and equipment, inventory and order supplies, and maintain patient care chart forms.
Perform or assist patients with activities of daily living, including bathing, grooming, eating, and walking.
Maintain cleanliness and safety of patient rooms, the unit, and equipment.
Assist patients, visitors, and nursing personnel in the assigned unit and help other departments with patient care as needed.
Build respectful and compassionate relationships with patients and families to support the patient experience.
May serve as a patient safety champion and promote shared responsibility for safety guidelines among licensed and unlicensed caregivers.
May assist with telemetry cardiac monitoring, recognize life-threatening arrhythmias, and immediately communicate them to an available licensed clinician.
May transport patients for the assigned nursing unit and run errands to pick up or deliver items for patient care.
Perform nursing tasks delegated by the Registered Nurse that meet the stated criteria for delegation and safe performance.
Perform basic nursing care duties as directed by the Registered Nurse, including waived testing such as fingerstick glucose, urine dipstick, and occult fecal testing; non-sterile specimen collection; nasogastric tube care; 12-lead EKGs; and simple clean, non-sterile dressing changes.
Collect and document data such as height, weight, vital signs, and intake and output on the appropriate forms.
Use portable handheld wireless devices to measure and document intake and output, vital signs, and point-of-care testing such as fingerstick glucose or urine dipstick.
Report patient observations and concerns to the Registered Nurse.
Use wireless devices and technology to coordinate healthcare activities such as scheduling, flowchart documentation, and nutrition service ordering.
May serve as a super user for nursing assistant information technology and/or preceptor for new nursing assistants.
Maintain supplies and equipment for patient care operations.
Secure and handle appropriate supplies, medications, and laboratory specimens transported to, from, and within the unit.
Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor.