Nurse Attendant

Under direction and supervision of Registered Nurse, assists patients with activities of daily living, provides basic nursing care, and assists in maintenance of a safe and clean environment.

Job Responsibility

• * Functions as a co-worker to the nurse and a key member of the nursing care team:
  • Organizes patient care assignment and sets priorities.
  • Alerts RN co-worker to changes in patient status i.e., alteration in comfort, skin integrity, alterations in breathing pattern, etc.
  • Documents patient care and patient status changes on the appropriate chart forms.
  • Communicates routine information to RN periodically during shift i.e., intake and output.
• * Assists RN in providing for ADL needs of patients:
  • Prepares patients for meals, and feeds or assists with meals.
  • Provides between meal nourishment and fresh water to patients.
  • Bathes or assists patient to bathe, provides oral hygiene.
  • Toilets patients as necessary.
  • Maintains patient's mobility with range of motion exercises and ambulation.
  • Grooms patient, including shaving, as needed.
  • Participates with the RN in the development of a plan of care for assigned patient.
  • Utilizes a plan of care in carrying out patient assignments.
• * Maintains patient care units in a neat and orderly condition:
  • Changes and makes beds.
  • Cleans and straightens bedside table and overbed tables, as needed.
  • Strips patient units upon discharge of patient, in preparation for cleaning by Housekeeping Department.
  • Removes equipment from room.Cleans and place it in appropriate are.
  • Prepares room for new admissions, transfers and post-operative patients.
• * Assists Registered Nurse by performing selected procedures and simple treatments:
  • Takes and records temperature, pulse, respiration rate and B.P on admission and as assigned.
  • Measures and records fluid intake and output; totals at shift end.
  • Obtains specimens, such as urine, stool and sputum.
  • Administers enemas, as directed.
  • Weighs and records patient weight on admission and as indicated.
  • Shave patients as instructed in preparation for procedures.
  • Performs simple procedures utilizing aseptic technique (i.e – applying and changing simple dressings).Performs simple respiratory treatments, as required (i.e – suctioning).
• * Performs a variety of related duties:
  • Assists patients in and out of bed, ambulates patients, lifts, turns and positions patients.
  • Assists with serving of meals; positions patient, cleans overbed table, and helps distribute and collect trays.
  • Transports and accompanies patients to various departments, as directed.
  • Reports missing or damaged equipment to Unit Service Coordinator.
  • Maintains non-patient rooms (i.e., utility rooms, linen rooms, kitchens, etc.) in a neat and orderly condition.
  • Maintains cleanliness of patient care equipment.
  • Performs constant observation on selected patients as assigned.
  • Follows medical Center's policies and procedures to support QA/QI efforts in patient care and services.
  • Performs post-mortem care and transports body to morgue.
• * Takes part in Nursing's continuing education policy by:
  • Attending nursing attendant course during orientation program.
  • Participating and completing annual mandatory educational requirements.
  • Attending nursing attendant staff development programs offered throughout the year.
• Performs related duties, as required.

*ADA Essential Functions

Job Qualification

• High School Diploma or equivalent, required.
• Completion of Nurse Assistant course or equivalent, required.ORPrior experience as a Nursing Attendant or equivalent, required.
• NYS  Nurse Attendant certification, preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively, and follow written and/or oral instructions.
• Ability to work in diversified settings.Ability to lift, turn, position, etc. Patients, as required.