JOB SUMMARY:

Assists patients with activities of daily living, provides basic nursing care to non-acutely ill patients and assists in maintenance of a safe and clean environment under the direction and supervision of the Registered Nurse in charge of the team and/or unit. Clients served are predominately adults eighteen years of age and older. Occasionally adolescents, pediatrics and infants are seen.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides basic nursing care to non-acutely ill patients within the Nursing Assistantâ��s scope of practice that includes actions that meet psychosocial needs and physical needs.
• Provides general aspects of care that meet psychosocial or physical needs or both simultaneously, within the Nursing Assistantâ��s scope of practice.
• Meets communication needs of patients.
• Demonstrates performance reflecting the initiative and responsibility expected of a Nursing Assistant.
• Performs other duties as assigned, within the Nursing Assistantâ��s scope of practice.
• Assists in admission, transfer and discharge of patient.
• Performs basic patient care responsibilities considering needs specific to the standard of care for patientâ��s age.
• Notifies appropriate licensed personnel when patient complains of pain.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate to the RN any observed changes in patient status and responses. Maintains awareness of the needs of the pediatric, geriatric and general patient population.
• Demonstrates ability to assist with feeding patients and maintaining fluid balance with technique appropriate for patientâ��s age and physical condition.
• Provides explanation to patient and family prior to administering care to patient; answers questions within scope of practice.
• Demonstrates ability to perform treatments and provide services within scope of practice.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to team leader, co-workers and physicians.
• Consults other departments as appropriate to provide for an interdisciplinary approach to the patientâ��s needs.
• Provides care appropriate to condition and age of the patient, including pediatric, geriatric and general population.
• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
• Demonstrates an ability to assist physicians with procedures and performs services requiring technical and manual skills under the direction of an RN.
• Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations.
• Responds to patient in emergency or physically distressful situations.
• Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity.
• Interacts professionally with patient/family and involves patient/family in the formation of the plan of care.
• Maintains a good working relationship both within the department and with other departments.
• Meets current documentation standards and policies and completes within shift.
• Manages and operates equipment safely and correctly.
• Coordinates and supervises patient care under the direct supervision of an RN.
• Demonstrates knowledge of disease entities.
• Medical and surgical asepsis is carried out during treatments and special procedures.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Reports to work on time and as scheduled, completes work within designated time.
• Adheres to scheduling requests of the department (Works weekends, no â��special days offâ��, no exceptions).
• Adheres to the Customer Service Standards of Texas Regional Medical Center while representing the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the facility, as well as the focus statement of the department and complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Utilizes computerized punch time system correctly.
• Completes annual education requirements and maintains regulatory requirements.
• Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean and wears identification while on duty.
• Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion and has not missed any mandatory in-services.
• Attends at least 8 staff meetings annually, is responsible for information presented at monthly staff meetings that he/she is unable to attend.
• Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.

REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma or GED
• Current AHA BLS certification.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to read and communicate effectively in English.
• Additional languages preferred.

SKILLS:

• Basic computer knowledge.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• For physical demands of position, including vision, hearing, repetitive motion and environment, see following description.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising client care.

Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant�s or employee�s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other legally protected status. Tenet will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.