Acute Care - Nursing Assistant

The Nursing Assistant (NA) provides compassionate patient care to a diverse age group of patients with a variety of medical and/or surgical conditions. This individual provides direct patient care and works collaboratively with team members including the patient and family, to achieve optimal patient outcomes. All care is provided under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. The NA assists with activities of daily living and assists with patient care treatments and procedures.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Provides for patient's personal hygiene and daily living. This may include providing and clearing bedpans and urinals, providing baths, backrubs, shampoos and shaves, and assisting patients with showers. Performs skin care checks and notifies nursing staff of any abnormalities or concerns.
• Assists with meals and feeds patients. Provides fresh water and nourishment between meals.
• Will perform mobility assistance to patients including turning and repositioning, assisting with transfers and ambulation. Assisting patients with active or passive range of motion or with restorative mobility exercises. Will be able to demonstrate safe use of mobility aide equipment and lifts.
• Ensures the patients are in clean gowns/clothing. Changes bedding routinely and tidies the patient's rooms throughout the shift.
• May assist nursing staff in providing enemas, douches, nonsterile dressings, surgical preps, ice packs, heat treatments, sitz and therapeutic baths, and apply restraints as instructed and delegated to do.
• Performs I&Os; checks vital signs, obtains heights/weights, and collects specimens.
• Promptly answers call lights and performs frequents rounding on all patients to ensure they are safe and needs are met.
• Assists nursing staff in performing point of care testing, collecting EKGs, placing patients on cardiac monitoring devices.
• Will be able to provide end of life and post-mortem cares.
• Works effectively as a team member in the delivery of care and assists in the orientation of new employees. Maintains good working relations with nursing unit staff and other hospital employees through appropriate communication.
• Instills confidence in patients by maintaining a neat appearance and performing duties in a competent and caring manner. Reports observations of patients to the nurse caring for the patient to ensure professional assessment.
• Ensures they are able to provide a comprehensive report of the patient's cares and needs to the on-coming shift nursing assistant.
• With specialized training and written approval, may perform additional and specialized tasks pertinent to the assigned area.
• Nursing assistants help to complete other duties as assigned such as: inventory and ordering of supplies, checking blanket/fluid warmers, stocking or supplies, general cleaning of patient care and work areas.
• Will use the appropriate processes for reporting incidents, notification of their nursing supervisor, and the chain of command.
• Assumes responsibility for professional growth by attendance at educational programs and routine unit meetings.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Shows dependability by being punctual; maintains consistent attendance.
• Maintains a safe environment for patients and co-workers; transports patients and equipment as appropriate.
• Must be able to prioritize and use time management effectively to complete tasks.
• Will use de-escalation techniques when working with agitated patients.
• Flexibility to work nights, weekends, holidays, and on call duty.

Education and Experience:

• High school graduate preferred.
• Successful completion of nursing assistant course or the equivalent within 6 months of hire.
• Previous hospital experience with acceptable references preferred.
• Must pass a pre-employment test for nursing assistant.
• Current BLS certification required.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions:

• Must be able to ambulate free of impairment and navigate stairways/corridors quickly to response to emergencies. Physically able to perform CPR.
• Requires prolonged periods of walking, standing, bending, or reaching.
• Must be able to lift/move patients of all sizes using proper body mechanics and/or patient lift equipment. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Able to withstand physical and emotional stress.
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases, body fluids, toxic substances, ionizing radiation, medicinal preparations, and other conditions common to a hospital environment.
• External applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential functions, either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodations be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Glendive Medical Center (GMC) conforms to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without any regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

GMC promotes a drug and alcohol-free workplace. Offers of employment are contingent upon successfully passing pre-employment screenings.