NURSING ATTENDANT II

Nursing Attendant/Nursing Assistant

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. Through its integrated system of 25 health centers, four (4) acute care hospitals, and an expanded network of community partner clinics, DHS annually provides direct care for 600,000 unique patients, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual budget of over $6.9 billion.

To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care.

Provides prescribed care to patients in an inpatient care unit.

Contributes to patient comfort and well-being by rearranging bedding and changing linen, serving, and removing meal trays and responding to requests for personal services, such as filling water containers, making mechanical adjustments of bed and providing assistance in changing position in bed, furnishing bedpans and urinals, and giving baths, shampoos, and back rubs.

Performs a limited prescribed range of technical nursing tasks, such as collecting urine, stool, and sputum specimens, monitoring the physical condition of patients and reporting changes to the charge nurse, measuring, and recording patients' food and liquid intake and output, taking and recording vital signs, and recognizing manifest signs of anxiety, stress or indications of change in emotional state of behavior.

Provides limited therapeutic services for patients as directed by a charge nurse or physician, such as turning and positioning patients to prevent pressure sores and to facilitate drainage, applying hot or cold compresses, applying bandages, giving baths, administering oxygen, giving bowel and bladder training.

Maintains a sanitary environment for patients by cleaning up minor spills, washing and cleaning bedpans, urinals and emesis basins, cleaning bathtubs and hydrotherapy tanks, cleaning up operating rooms after use, and washing as well as cleaning instruments/equipment such as catheters or tubings.

Performs support tasks, including but not limited to taking inventory and replenishing ward supplies such as thermometers, gloves, and needles, inspecting, folding, packaging and sterilizing dressings, and assisting in patient admission, transfer and discharge by listing and making distribution of clothing and valuables, and performs incidental clerical tasks.

Helps patients as may be required in all the usual activities of daily living such as eating, brushing teeth, dressing, and undressing, and eliminating.

Carries on prescribed structured interaction with patients which is designed to provide an environment in which behavioral modification may take place; observes and reports patient's response.

Protects patients and staff by intervening in ward disturbances, calming agitated patients and restraining combative patients.

Communicates with patients and members of their families and with members of the hospital staff in a manner conducive to achieving and maintaining a patient environment which is free of stress and emotional tension.

Administers passive exercises to or helps patients to perform exercises and activities prescribed by a physician, licensed therapist, or registered nurse; assists patients in sitting up, getting out of bed, and ambulating.

Encourages patients to resuming normal functioning at a pace in keeping with their capability.

As an incident to other duties described above, escorts patients to outside clinics, schools, recreational therapy, and other pertinent approved off-site locations.

Assists physicians in performing medical procedures positioning and draping of patients such as but not limited to restraining patients during procedure and passing instrument/supplies to the physician as requested.

Selection requirements: Six months of experience as a Nursing Attendant/Nursing Assistant in a ward or clinic and completion of a training assignment or a training program recognized by the California Department of Public Health in Nursing Attendant work. A current Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate for Healthcare Providers (CPR & AED) issued by the American Heart Association is required to qualify. A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions. Physical class: IV - Arduous: Involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working on irregular surfaces; and occasionally requires extraordinary physical activity.