Mobility Assistant

Summary:

The mobility assistant functions under the supervision of the Staff Registered Nurse (RN) in collaboration with Lifespan Rehabilitation Services (LRS) and within Hospital and department policies and procedures assists in caring for patients and/or families from admission to discharge. All essential functions performed in this position reflect the age-specific needs of the patients.

Responsibilities:

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To be successful at Lifespan all employees commit to sharing our mission of Delivering health with careand successfully practicing our values of Compassion Accountability Respect and Excellence which guide our everyday actions with patients customers and one another. Employees are also responsible for knowing and acting in accordance with the principles of the Lifespan Corporate Compliance Program and Code of Conduct.

Under direction of the RN and/or LRS therapists:

Provides mobility interventions including safe bed mobility transfers to and from bed and chair/ commode ambulation with/without assistive device.

Assists with activities of daily living (ADLs) with a focus on mobility independence to include ambulation positioning dressing and toileting.

Ensures accurate fitting of assistive device for mobility.

Progresses individual patient mobility to achieve Johns Hopkins-Highest Level of Mobility (JH-HLM) Goal of the day.

Communicates all pertinent observations to the responsible RN. Immediately reports patient complaints and observations including but not limited to abnormal vital signs fever chills shortness of breath chest pain bleeding nausea vomiting and diarrhea.

Maintains a safe patient environment. Complies with infection control practices in accordance with established Hospital and department policies and procedures.

Performs basic patient care skills such as vital sign reading and recording under the direction of the RN.

Performs all essential functions with consideration of the age-specific needs of the geriatric adult and adolescent patient.

Maintains education and competencies within the Departments of Nursing and LRS directed by supervisor.

Assists with all aspects of the nursing process including but not limited to assisting with collection of baseline and ongoing assessment data following the management plan and monitoring the patient response to mobility interventions.

Provides and/or reinforces patient instruction regarding safe mobility gait sequencing and weight bearing status as appropriate.

Maintains quality assurance safety environmental and infection control in accordance with established hospital department policies procedures and objectives.

Ability to perform responsibilities in emergency/code situations including CPR.

Other information:

BASIC KNOWLEDGE:

High school graduate or General Equivalent Diploma. Current certification in Basic Life Support with Healthcare Provider. Nursing Assistants preferred; Healthcare focused student or equivalent experience and/or education in patient mobility considered.

Read write and speak English; ability to perform basic computer skills.

Ability to identify and report unsafe situations to the Staff Nurse.

Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span with consideration of aging processes human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

EXPERIENCE:

Experience and/or education in patient mobility recommended.

Interpersonal skills to effectively interact with patients visitors physicians and hospital staff at all levels.

Reading and mathematical abilities in order to complete documentation operate monitoring equipment and maintain an environment conducive to patient comfort and safety.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Healthcare environment such as acute care hospitals physiciansoffices and ancillary healthcare enterprises. Works with medical equipment and has direct patient contact. Any potential hazards are minimized or nullified by adherence to established safety procedures and precautions including use safety equipment and protective clothing.

Prolonged sitting standing and walking. May be required to lift/turn patients and equipment. Repeated bending squatting stooping.

INDEPENDENT ACTION:

Works under the supervision of the RN in collaboration with LRS therapists within the scope of Hospital and department policies and procedures. Refers specific complex problems to supervisor where clarification of departmental policies and procedures may be required. Supervisory staff is physically present most of the time.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

None.