JOB SUMMARY: 

Assist professional nursing personnel in providing patient care in assigned areas to patients.

EDUCATION, CREDENTIALS & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: 

· Active GA CNA Certification required.

· Previous experience preferred.

· High school graduate or equivalent 

· Active American Heart Association BLS certification within 30 days of hire.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: 

· Performs all job responsibilities in alignment with the mission and vision of the organization. 

· Performs other duties as required and completes all job functions as per departmental policies and procedures. 

· Maintains current knowledge in present areas of responsibility (i.e., self-education, attends ongoing educational programs). 

· Attends staff meetings and completes mandatory in-services and requirements and competency evaluations on time. 

· Wears protective clothing and equipment as appropriate. 

GENERAL SKILLS: 

· Ability to communicate in English, both verbally and in writing. 

· Additional languages preferred. 

· Strong written and verbal skills.

· Basic Computer Skills

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

· General environment: Works in a well-lighted, air-conditioned area, with moderate noise levels. 

· May be exposed to high noise levels and bright lights. 

· May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids, or infectious organisms. 

· May be required to change from one task to another or different nature without loss of efficiency or composure. 

· Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur. 

· May be scheduled as needed including overtime. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & DEMANDS: 

· Have near normal hearing: Hear alarms/telephone/normal speaking voice. 

· Have near normal vision: Clarity of vision (both near and far), ability to distinguish colors. 

· Have good manual dexterity. 

· Have good eye-hand foot coordination. 

· Ability to perform repetitive tasks/motion. 

· Continuously within shift (67-100%): Standing, Walking. 

· Frequently within shift (34-66%): Bending/Stooping, Pushing/Pulling, Lift/carry up to 20lbs, Lift/carry greater than 20 lbs. with assistance. 

· Occasionally within shift (1-33%): Sitting, Climbing, Twist at waist, Lift/Carry greater than 50 lbs. with assistance, Reaching above shoulder. 

MISSION STATEMENT: 

QUALITY HEALTHCARE: In our continuing effort to enhance the quality of life for the communities we serve, the Hospital Authority of Miller County is committed to the delivery of superior, safe, cost-effective healthcare through the provisions of education prevention, diagnosis and treatment. 

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

• Consults with and keeps supervisor informed of unit activities, needs and problems related to patient care.
• Complies with established nursing standards.
• Maintains established department, unit, hospital policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance, safety, environmental and infection control.
• Follows established routines and utilize supplies and equipment in a cost-effective manner.
• Maintains a clean, orderly, safe environment for patients and personnel.
• Cooperates with other personnel to achieve department objectives and maintain good employee interdepartmental and public relations.
• Maintains patient rights and confidentiality of patient information, and abides by established communications code.
• Fosters teamwork by offering assistance to others.
• Responds to requests in a prompt, friendly manner.
• Avoids excessive unscheduled absence. Accrues 12 hours of continuing education per year as policy states.
• Demonstrates a calm, professional manner during a crisis or emergency situation. Determines specific nursing intervention to resolve patient problems.
• Documents attendance at continuing education programs.
• Reports for scheduled shift on time; prepared to assume duties.
• Reports to work in proper uniform or attire. Adheres to dress code.
• Varies work schedule of shift (working overtime, leaves early when requested, work shift other than regularly scheduled as required) to meet department staffing needs.
• Attends and participates in meetings and is responsible for all information communicated at meetings.

Infant / Children

• Modifies the interview techniques to adequately assess the child patient by identifying the physical, psychosocial, and educational needs common to this age group.
• Observes parent / child interactions and child’s general appearance, i.e. abuse, neglect.
• Provides education / explanation in easily understood terms to reduce stress/ fear.
• Encourages and supports presence of family.

Adolescent

• Modifies the interview techniques to adequately assess the adolescent patient by identifying the physical, psychosocial, and educational needs common to this age group.
• Recognizes patient’s needs to assert independence and reluctance to express dependency needs and anxiety about hospitalization. Modifies interventions to meet these needs. 
• Provides reassurance and support when there is anxiety regarding potential altered body images. Provides for privacy.
• Recognizes need for peer support.
• Provides teaching specific to educational needs with routine reinforcement because of tendency toward denial and non-compliance.

Adult

• Modifies the interview techniques to adequately assess the adult patient by identifying the physical, psychosocial, and educational needs common to this age group.
• Recognizes potential for increased stress related to dependency needs of others, i.e. children, elderly parents, anxiety regarding lifestyle changes due to illness.
• Identifies fear related to potential altered body image.

Geriatric

• Modifies the interview techniques to adequately assess the geriatric patient by identifying the physical, psychosocial, and educational needs common to this age group.
• Identifies increased physical / emotional dependency needs and availability of support networks.
• Recognizes potential for compromised skin integrity and provides preventative measures.
• Monitors intake of prescribed diet and other nutritional supplements each meal.
• Notes changes in elimination patterns.
• Identifies increased sensitivity to climate changes. Provides heating and cooling as needed.
• Determines presence of disability affecting mobility and sensory acuity and provides for safety measures. 
• Modifies provision of nursing interventions to reflect the responses unique to the geriatric patient.

Applies To All Age Groups

• Greets and orients patient to room.
• Completes admission vital signs, height, and weight within 15 minutes of admission. Records weight accurately - reports
• Re-checks patient’s vital signs every 4 hours or as ordered / instructed by nurse.
• Records weights accurately and reports changes.
• Communicates patient care needs or changes to the primary nurse or Charge Nurse throughout the shift and as necessary.
• Responsible for following privacy concepts and other policies as stated in the HIPPA policy and procedures.

Patient Documentation

• Knows patient rights and responsibilities / information management.
• Reports completely, briefly, and accurately re: patient status when transferring responsibility of care to another person/shift.
• Utilization Management Program
• Avoids excessive unscheduled absence.
• Participates in the hospital’s risk management program by reporting all untoward events or abnormal findings to the Charge Nurse at time of occurrence.
• Assesses individual patient rooms and unit environment for safe / sanitary conditions.
• Corrects or reports hazardous or unsafe conditions.
• Identifies, sequesters, and reports malfunctioning equipment to the appropriate person immediately.
• Utilizes supplies and equipment with efficiency and charges appropriately.
• Recognizes signs and symptoms of possible child/adult/elderly abuse and immediately notifies Charge Nurse to alert appropriate agency.

Patient Care Responsibilities 

• Ensures each patient’s general hygiene needs are met daily.
• Notifies nurse of any skin areas with breakdown or redness.
• Performs hand washing before and after contact with each patient.
• Immediately disposes of biomedical and hazardous waste in labeled biomedical/ bio hazardous waste container.
• Obtains patient’s vital signs and ensures notification of the nurse of any abnormal finding or significant changes.
• Provides post-mortem care.
• Explains all procedures and treatments to patients and/or significant other at each occurrence. Verifies with 2 patient identifiers.
• Observes for / recognizes untoward reactions to prescribed therapies/diagnostic procedures.
• Reports amount, color, and characteristics of gastric output to the nurse.
• Performs ostomy care.
• Performs peri care for patients with catheters every shift and PRN. Documents performance.
• Monitors urine output as ordered and records on appropriate form.
• Collects urine for urinalysis and urine C & S, notifies nurse of inadequate urine output.

Interpersonal Relations

• Fosters teamwork by offering assistance to others. Notifies nurse of any skin areas of with breakdown or redness.
• Provides positive welcome to all clients and family members.
• Shows consideration in interaction with patient/family and other health team members by demonstrating therapeutic listening skills and cooperation. Acknowledges and responds tactfully to all requests.

· General Responsibilities

o Reports for scheduled shift on time; prepared to assume duties.

o Reports to work in proper uniform or attire. Adheres to dress code.

o Clocks in on arrival and out upon leaving.

o Follows policy for reporting in sick or absent 100% of the time.

o Leaves for meal break on time and returns on time.

o Varies work schedule of shift (working overtime, leaves early when requested, work shift other than regularly scheduled as required) to meet department staffing needs.

o Works overtime only with appropriate approval when requested by manager or supervisory approval.

o Schedules all vacation days with supervisory approval.

o Attends and participates in meetings and is responsible for all information communicated at meetings.

o Attends all hospital mandatory in-services on a timely basis as scheduled.

o Follows Universal Precautions and infection control procedures at all times.