Certified Nursing Assistant

Under direct supervision, employees provide assistance to Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses in the delivery of health care services. This position is responsible for performing non-licensed work to meet the hygienic, emotional and physical needs of patients to assist them in restoring, reaching and/or maintaining their optimal level of function. Care and services are performed in compliance with a written plan of care and assignment. The employee’s responsibilities are primarily of a clerical nature, with the focus being on facilitating communications between incoming calls and the staff, making arrangements for patient admission and/or transfer.

• Demonstrates understanding and commitment to the mission, philosophy, standards, policies andprocedures of the Health Care District.
• Recognizes all individuals as customers and provides courteous and respectful service.
• Performs assigned care and communications within scope of practice and as directed by the supervised licensed provider.
• Keeps the patient, family and staff informed of the progress in the patient’s plan of care as appropriate. Documents and reports any complaints from patients/visitors/physicians to supervisor.
• Observes patients and reports any changes in behavior or condition to nurse and/or physician.
• Works as a team with other care providers; utilizing good communication skills, critical thinking, and collaboration.
• Recognizes cultural differences with patients and adjusts care and approaches to patients to make them feel safe and valued.
• Demonstrates understanding of regulatory standards and delivers care with patient safety as a goal
• Communicates effectively with other patient care providers and team members for efficiencies and safety of care.
• Reports critical information to the supervising licensed provider (i.e. critical lab values, activation of EMS, decompensating status, etc.
• Ensures that documentation is complete and accurate before the end of shift.
• Acknowledges patients’ religious needs and communicates to the health care team as indicated.
• Informs the patient and documents appropriately all patient care procedures that are performed.
• Assists with securing patient valuables by labeling personal items and storing dentures, glasses, etc., in a safe place and ensuring that valuables stay with patient when transferred/discharged. Encourages family members to take valuables/belongings home that are not necessary for the patient while in the hospital.
• Reports to the oncoming clerical staff or the charge nurse the status of pending transfers or other incomplete duties.
• Utilizes and ensures staff uses supplies efficiently, following infection control procedures, avoiding waste and follows patient charging procedures.
• Assists in patient preparation for treatment
• Performs duties as a team member - communicating effectively and assisting co-workers as needed to ensure efficient and safe patient care.
• Assists in the orientation of new staff members recognizing importance of bringing new staff into a friendly and supportive work environment
• Works with supervisor and other staff members to maintain competence and skills for procedures assigned. Maintains all required education, training, and competencies for any identified floating location. 
• Assists team members and manager in identifying opportunities for improvement in processes.
• Demonstrates an understanding of responsibility in emergency plans and is available for patient care as needed or scheduled when emergency preparedness plans are activated
• Participates in community activities and promotes the organization within the community.
• Serves as a change leader, positively promoting new systems and changes implemented which improves the hospital and the service provided to its patients.
• Participates in the hospital goals for growth by being an example of good service to patients in our community and in assisting physicians and other team members.
• Maintains knowledge of the documentation system used for patient care.
• Performs duties with a clear understanding of policies and procedures and unit standards for performing care. Adjusts care to meet the needs of the patient population served as qualified; i.e., infant, child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patient.
• Informs the licensed supervising provider when assigned a duty that is outside the licensure/certification or skill of the employee and requesting the education and assistance in performing the duty.
• Verifies patients’ identity using two patient identifiers before performing any tasks. Performs waived testing per policy, and completes appropriate documentation.
• Follows and adheres to Universal Protocol for prevention of wrong site, wrong procedure and wrong person treatment.
• Communicates and completes handoff documentation for effective handoff of patients care (SBAR) for admission or transfer to another health care facility as per policy.
• Follows the cleaning and disposal policies and procedures for all hazardous wastes.
• Demonstrates competency in utilizing the call system, answering calls and identifying the different alarms for any identified floating location.
• Responds to call lights promptly and provides appropriate assistance to patients as needed, under the supervision of the RN.
• Transports patients using wheelchairs, stretchers, recliners or assists them to walk with or without assistive devices as needed to the bathroom. Verifies the patient’s ability to walk; verifies with the nurse regarding removal from the monitoring system.
• Reports any unusual occurrences or untoward signs and symptoms to the supervising licensed provider, including timely reporting of vital signs out of normal range.
• Initiates Emergency Response Activation and begins CPR immediately as appropriate for the float locations identified.
• Measures/takes vital signs, blood pressure, and related data and documents.
• Documents patient care, treatments and observations as required. Maintains proper filing of patient documentation.
• Completes training and validation of usage of all equipment for all float locations identified.
• Uses patient care equipment safely and as directed by policies and instruction. Labels any piece of equipment that is malfunctioning, reports to the appropriate department for repair.
• Identifies emergent situations and able to respond appropriately for all float locations identified.
• Performs duties in accordance with established infection control standards in the performance of all patient procedures; demonstrating adherence to hand washing policy.
•  Assist in cleaning the patient care spaces to prepare for the next patient.
• Ensures a septic techniques are followed.
• Ensures the patient care spaces (pantry,supplyrooms,linenshelves,equipment,andnursesstations)arecleanandorderly.
• Maintains cleanliness of equipment before and after use.
• Reports information appropriate to risk management and compliance as appropriate.
• Emergency duty may be required of the incumbent that includes working in special needs or Red Cross shelters or to perform other emergency duties including, but not limited to, responses to threats or disasters, man- made or natural.

School Health Specific if identified as a float location:

• Provides delegated student health care services within the School Health Program as Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP).
• Administers medications to students prescribed by a licensed health care provider with parental consent following established protocols and care plans.
• Properly receives, handles, and stores medications; maintains temperature logs; manages medication expiration.
• Provides first aid and injury care to students with urgent health needs according to procedures andprotocols
• Assiststudentswithdiabetesmanagement
• Assist students with allergy, asthma, and seizure management
• Administers COVID-19 and FLU tests with Parent/Guardian documented consent
• May be required to float to another school location on occasions to supplement and assist meeting staffing demands.
• Reviews and updates student electronic health files, forwarding them to appropriate destinations when students transfer to another school within the District.

Skilled Nursing Specific if identified as a float location:

Reads nursing assessment of each new resident admitted to one of the restorative programs. Provides opportunities for residents to experience optimal independence in the following areas:

• Feeding - including use of a safe swallow;
• Performing personal hygiene/personal care (i.e., combing hair, brushing teeth, denture care, washing face and hands, bowel and bladder continence, skin protection and maintaining skin integrity);
• Performing restorative exercises, including routine range of motion exercises;
• Using adaptive equipment; and using and caring for splints (i.e., application, scheduled wearing, cleaning of) as needed;
• Dressing self (i.e., buttoning, tying shoes);
• Ambulating and transferring (i.e., using a gait/transfer belt and appropriate assistive devices);
• Positioning in a bed, chair or wheelchair;
• Communicating using techniques for the hearing or speech impaired resident;
• Interacting socially by using validation therapy, cognitive stimulation and sensory

Ensures that the following restorative programs and documentation are in place and monitored on a daily basis:

• Restorative flow sheets;
• Dining Room consumption;
• Restorative walking;
• Restorative range of motion exercises; Restorative feeding;
• Restorative positioning; Restorative swallowing; Restorative ADLs; Restorative positioning Walk to dine program; Reminiscence therapy; Strengthening exercises;
• Dining room supervision to include right diet, right person, likes, dislikes, thickened liquids, enough time to eat and pleasant dining experience.
• Assists residents with identifying food arrangements (i.e, informing resident with sight problem of foods that are on his/her tray, where it is located, if it is hot/cold, removes sealed covers).
• Assists with meals in the Dining Room and the Assisted Dining Room. Observes and assists with positioning of residents at the tables for meals. Ensures adaptive feeding aids are used as prescribed. Assists residents with restorative positioning to improve functioning. Informs Restorative Nurse of changes in residents eating patterns or if additional assessment may be needed.
• Assists residents with splints who require splints. Completes and records weights for all new residents.
• Completes weekly, monthly and other prescribed weights and documents.
• Records the resident's food/fluid intake as needed. Reports changes in the resident's eating habits to the Restorative Nurse/Nurse Manager.
• Follows written restorative/plan of care and assignments, including performing rehabilitative/restorative tasks such as helping residents learn how to feed themselves, ambulate, and toilet train.
• Records all supplies taken for each specific resident.

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED required.

Experience:

• Minimum of six (6) months in an acute care setting is preferred.

Certification:

• CPR certification required. HIV Education certification preferred.

Licensure:

• State of Florida Certified Nursing Assistant license required.

Registrations:

N/A

Training:

N/A