Patient Support Assistant

OhioHealth•Augusta, GA

About The Position

The Patient Support Assistant assists a Registered Nurse in providing direct care to multiple patients on an assigned nursing unit. The role supports patients with activities of daily living, maintains a clean and safe care environment, and helps create a respectful and compassionate experience for patients and families. The assistant may also support patient safety, cardiac monitoring, patient transport, and unit errands. Under RN delegation, the assistant performs basic nursing care tasks that do not require nursing judgment, assessment, complex observation, or critical decisions. Duties may include waived point-of-care tests, specimen collection, nasogastric tube care, 12-lead EKGs, simple clean non-sterile dressing changes, and collecting and documenting patient data such as vital signs, height, weight, and intake and output. The assistant reports observations and concerns to the RN and uses portable technology for measurements and documentation. The role also assists visitors and staff with information needs, helps coordinate care using wireless devices and technology, maintains patient-care supplies and equipment, and handles appropriate supplies, medications, and lab specimens. The position requires attention to safety, quality, and efficiency as part of a High Reliability Organization. Duties may change and may include other work requested by a supervisor.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED, subject to the stated exceptions for certain 16-, 17-, and 18-year-old individuals.
Competence using portable technology and handheld wireless devices for measurement and documentation of patient data and point-of-care testing.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with activities of daily living, including bathing, grooming, eating, and walking.
Maintain cleanliness and safety in 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 serve as a patient safety champion by promoting shared responsibility for safety guidelines.
May assist with telemetry cardiac monitoring, recognize life-threatening arrhythmias, and promptly communicate them to an available licensed clinician.
May transport patients and run errands to pick up or deliver items for patient care.
Perform other nursing tasks delegated by the RN that meet the stated limits for delegated tasks and can be performed safely without nursing judgment or assessment.
Perform basic nursing care duties as directed by the RN, 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 accurately document data such as height, weight, vital signs, and intake and output.
Use handheld wireless devices for measurement and documentation, including point-of-care testing.
Report patient observations and concerns to the Registered Nurse.
Assist hospital visitors and staff with information needs.
May use wireless devices and technology to coordinate healthcare, including 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 needed for patient care operations.
Secure and handle appropriate supplies, medications, and lab specimens transported from, into, and within the unit.
Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor, with focus on safety, quality, and efficiency.