Patient Support Assistant

OhioHealth•Marion, VA

About The Position

Assist Registered Nurses in providing direct patient care to multiple patients on a designated nursing unit. The position supports activities of daily living, patient safety, unit cleanliness, basic delegated nursing tasks, data collection and documentation, and coordination of patient-care operations. The role also assists patients, families, visitors, and staff, and may help other departments with patient care as needed. As part of a High Reliability Organization, the associate is expected to focus on safety, quality, and efficiency. The job profile is an overview rather than an exhaustive list, and duties may change or include other tasks requested by a supervisor.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED, subject to the stated exceptions for certain 16- to 18-year-old individuals.
Focus on safety, quality, and efficiency while performing job duties.

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; help other departments with patient care as needed.
Build respectful and compassionate relationships with patients and families to support a positive 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 and run errands to pick up or deliver items for patient care.
Perform nursing tasks delegated by the Registered Nurse that are appropriate for the role and can be performed safely without nursing judgment, assessment, complex observation, or critical decisions.
Perform basic nursing care tasks as directed by the RN, which may include 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 record data such as height, weight, vital signs, and intake and output on the appropriate documentation form.
Use handheld wireless devices and other portable technology to measure and document intake and output, vital signs, and 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 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 needed for patient care operations.
Secure and handle appropriate supplies, medications, and laboratory specimens transported from, into, or within the unit.
Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor.