Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)

JOB SUMMARY :

Under the supervision and guidance of the Registered Nurse, the Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) is responsible for assisting with patient care within the scope of their practice.

The CNA assists members of the heath care team to provide and maintain a clean, safe, and attractive environment for patients and their families.

The primary work performed by the CNA includes components of direct patient care, including assisting with nutrition, observation and reporting, positioning, offering personal hygiene and toileting, ambulating patients, customer service, transportation of patients and supplies, and assisting the RNs while following hospital policies and procedures.

The CNA will also assist the patient with activities of daily living while ensuring a safe environment for the patient to avoid risk of harming themselves or others.

These services further the mission of Valley Presbyterian Hospital, which is to provide high quality, cost effective healthcare for the people in the communities we serve.

EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS :

• Computer skills preferred
• One year of acute patient care experience preferred
• Must demonstrate technical competence, communication skills and sensitivity for the patient and family in the hospital setting.
• Must possess the ability to effectively coordinate multiple patient care assignments, use time management skills, problem solve.

EDUCATION :

High School diploma or equivalent

LICENSURES / CERTIFICATION :

• Current Certified Nurse Assistant certification
• Must successfully complete and maintain BLS certification
• Must successfully complete and maintain LA City Fire Card certification
• Must successfully complete and maintain Management of Assaultive Behavior (MOAB) training within the first 30 days of employment / transfer

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ( These are the essential job functions for this position. The essential functions of this job include, but may not be limited to those listed in this job description.

Employees hired for this position must be able to perform the essential function of this job without imposing significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others) :

• Adheres to hospital infection control practices including hand hygiene.
• Acts as a patient advocate and service ambassador provides non-judgmental, non-discriminatory care in a manner that is culturally sensitive to patient / family diversity while preserving each person’s autonomy, dignity and rights.
• Adapts to the needs of the hospital / unit by demonstrating flexibility.
• Assists in the transportation of patient and specimens.
• Assists other staff as necessary to ensure the provision of quality patient care.
• Collects patient specimens and data, including vital signs, input / output and other delegated measurements in accordance with unit / facility policy and standards of care.
• Conducts self in a professional manner at all times- adhering to the hospital’s behavioral standards.
• Demonstrates knowledge of age-specific patient populations and cultural diversity during the provision of patient care.
• Documents objective data and routine aspects of patient care in the computer under the direction of the Registered Nurse.
• Ensures that work environments and patient rooms are neat and orderly to enhance unit and hospital image and ensures safety.
• Observes and reports any patient condition changes / variances to the Registered Nurse (i.e. abnormal vital signs, abnormal responses to care, change in patient behavior, functional status, patient complaints, changes in skin integrity, falls, etc.).
• Maintains confidentiality in accordance with hospital policy, procedures and HIPAA requirements.
• Participates in all service and quality initiatives like the hourly rounding and turning programs.
• Performs other administrative documentation as assigned (e.g. work logs, audits).
• Promotes patient safety at all times (e.g. clear path to the bathroom, patient call light within reach).
• Promptly answers call lights and responds to patient needs.
• Provides assistance in activities of daily living and completes necessary tasks to promote patient health, including assisting patients with basic hygiene needs, maintaining an optimum level of mobility and assisting patients with nutritional intake, as needed.
• Provides assistance with feeding, meals, passing water and snacks to ensure that patient's dietary needs are met.
• Reports patient status changes and patient needs to Registered Nurse accurately and timely.
• Performs all other duties as assigned within scope of practice and per hospital policy.

The following job accountabilities are not unique to this particular job but are common to all jobs at VPH :

Complies with VPH policies and procedures on customer satisfaction and service excellence. Demonstrates professionalism and cultural sensitivity in coordinating activities and communicating with all customers, peers, and the community at large.

Conducts self in a professional, respectful and courteous manner during all interactions. Works effectively and collaboratively with others toward common goals.

Communicates accurately, honestly, supportively and in a timely manner with department and interdepartmental team members.

Demonstrates effective business writing and oral communication skills, handwriting is clear and legible.

• Participates in operational aspects of the department, and maintains / participates in performance improvement activities within the department.
• Participates in all departmental specific training, Environment of Care (injury / illness prevention, fire / life safety, hazardous materials, emergency preparedness, utilities management, medical equipment management, safety and security management), infection control (standard precautions, TB Exposure Control Plan, Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan).
• Demonstrates knowledge of and follows safety practices. Understands the importance of safety, including patient safety in the work place.

Maintains a safe environment for self and others.

Actively participates in the Patient Safety Program, including event reporting. Identifies sentinel events / near misses and responds per defined organization processes.

Participates in education activities and process implementation. Demonstrates advocacy for the patient / customer and appropriately acknowledges patients, customers and visitors.

The above statements reflect the essential functions considered necessary to describe the principle content of the job. They are not intended to be a complete statement of all work requirements or duties that may be inherent in the job.

WORK ENVIRONMENT :

• Primarily an inside building / office environment, well lighted and ventilated, which may consist of multiple treatment and / or work sites.
• Fast and continuous work pace with variable workload.
• Frequent contact with staff and public under a variety of circumstances. Requires ability to communicate clearly (in English) verbally and in writing for effective communication with other staff members, physicians, vendors, community members, patients and patient families, employees and applicants of all socio-economic levels from a diverse cultural and ethnic population.
• Subject to many interruptions from multiple calls and inquiries and potentially emotional situations involving accidents, injuries, illness and / or death.
• Handles emergency / crisis situations in accordance with Hospital policy.
• Answers phones or pages; may carry a beeper / pager, and / or use a two-way radio.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• Potential risk of exposure to hazards from chemicals (toxic and non-toxic), flammable materials, gas or electrical or radiant energy or equipment with / without moving parts.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS :

Patient Care ( Continuous : 66 to 100% of time, Frequent : 33 to 65% of time, Occasional : 0 to 32% of time)

• Continuous standing / walking and occasional / intermittent sitting.
• Continuous use of bilateral upper extremities in fine motor activities requiring fingering, grasping, and forward reaching between waist and shoulder level to handle / operate medical equipment / devices.
• Frequent reaching above shoulder level and overhead.
• Frequent forward bending, twisting, squatting and kneeling; occasional climbing.
• Occasional repositioning and transferring patients weighing up to 200 pounds between bed, chair, and gurney.
• Occasional lifting and carrying equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Occasional / intermittent pushing of gurneys, wheelchairs, bed and other medical equipment over tiled and carpeted surfaces.
• Continuous use of near vision to read medical equipment such as monitoring devices and reading documents and computer screens;

hearing and verbal communication to interact with patients, co-workers, and other customers.