Job Description

University of Utah Job Description

Job Summary

This position provides patient care at the direction of a Registered Nurse. Requiring direct contact with patients and their families as well as the performance of indirect patient care activities necessary to support patients and their environment. This position may be required to access and administer medications within their scope of practice and according to state law.

Qualifications

Required

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.

• Current certification as a Nursing Assistant with the State of Utah,or completion of first round of clinical and current enrollment in approved nursing education program or successful completion of RN program or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience).

• For those enrolled in a nursing program, incumbents have three months from completion of RN program to obtain an RN license. If an RN license is not obtained by the end of those three months, the incumbent must immediately obtain a current CNA.
• Individuals in this job code with an RN license must also have a CNA certification if they remain in it longer than three months.

This position is patient-sensitive and must fulfill all associated vaccination requirements, or be approved for an exemption, prior to the first day of work. We protect our patients, coworkers and community by requiring all patient-sensitive employees to be immunized according to CDC standards and hospital policy. Limited exemptions may be made for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs that object to vaccinations.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Disclaimer

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Essential Functions

• Assists the patient with feeding, drinking, ambulating, grooming, toileting, dressing, socializing and unit specific technical skills.
• Reinforces or assists in educating and teaching patients/significant other(s) as delegated by the professional care provider.
• Collects, reports and documents data related to direct patient care activities.
• Assists with indirect patient care activities such as providing a clean, efficient and safe patient care environment, companion care, housekeeping, transporting of patients, and chaperoning the physician during patient examinations and procedures as needed.
• Performs unit specific duties and additional clerical duties as needed which may include stocking and maintaining clerical and patient supplies.
• Provides communication to hospital staff, physicians, patients, families, and visitors.
• May process electronic requests to order medical treatments and tests. May retrieve patient test and lab results.
• May schedule patient appointments.
• May maintain patient records and activity boards on unit as needed.
• May manage admits, discharges, and transfer functions per unit standard.
• Responsible for processing paper orders in the event of a downtime if working in the clerical role. Will enter "downtime occurrence order" and associated start and stop time in each patient record.
• May observe the cardiac monitor and notify the nursing and medical staff of any abnormal heart rhythm variances which indicate heart ischemia or an acute myocardial infarction.

Problem Solving

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.
• Demonstrated human relation and effective communication skills.
• Demonstrated customer service skills. Ability to work in a busy environment.
• Demonstrated ability to use a multi-line phone system and utilize hospital paging system as needed.
• Ability to initiate appropriate action in emergency/crisis situations which require the incumbent to evaluate the crises and determine what the protocol is for each situation.

Comments

The staff member must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.  The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.