Patient Support Assistant-Med Surg Oncology

OhioHealth•Augusta, GA

About The Position

The Patient Support Assistant assists a Registered Nurse in providing direct care to multiple patients on a designated nursing unit. The role supports patients with activities of daily living and basic nursing care, while helping maintain a clean and safe environment and fostering respectful, compassionate relationships with patients and families. The assistant performs delegated nursing tasks that do not require nursing judgment, assessment, complex observation, or critical decisions. Duties include collecting and documenting patient data, reporting observations and concerns to the Registered Nurse, supporting visitors and staff, coordinating care using wireless devices, and maintaining supplies and equipment. The position may also involve telemetry monitoring, patient transport, and serving as a safety champion, technology super user, or preceptor. Associates are expected to perform other duties as requested by a supervisor. OhioHealth emphasizes safety, quality, and efficiency as a High Reliability Organization.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED, subject to the stated age-related exceptions for applicants enrolled in high school or holding a valid work permit.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association.

Responsibilities

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 on 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 promote adherence to patient safety guidelines as a patient safety champion.
May assist with telemetry cardiac monitoring, recognize life-threatening arrhythmias, and promptly notify an available licensed clinician.
May transport patients and run errands to pick up or deliver items for patient care.
Perform nursing tasks delegated by the Registered Nurse that do not require nursing judgment, assessment, complex observations, or critical decisions.
Perform basic nursing care tasks as directed, including waived testing, non-sterile specimen collection, nasogastric tube care, 12-lead EKGs, and simple clean non-sterile dressing changes.
Collect and document patient data, including height, weight, vital signs, intake, and output.
Use handheld wireless devices to measure and document intake and output, vital signs, and point-of-care testing results.
Report patient observations and concerns to the Registered Nurse.
Assist hospital visitors and staff with information needs.
May use wireless devices and technology for care coordination, scheduling, flowchart documentation, and nutrition service ordering.
May serve as a nursing assistant information technology super user or preceptor for new nursing assistants.
Maintain supplies and equipment needed 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.