Job Description

Purpose of Your Job Position
The primary purpose of your job position is to provide each of your assigned patients with routine daily nursing care and services in accordance with the patient’s assessment and care plan, and as may be directed by your supervisors.

Delegation of Authority
As a Certified Nursing Assistant, you are delegated the authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Job Functions
Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work
is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities
Administrative Functions
•    Use the prescribed methods to identify patients before administering treatments, serving meals, etc., as necessary.
•    Record all entries on flow sheets, notes, charts, etc., in an informative and descriptive manner.
•    Use only authorized abbreviations established by this facility when recording information.
•    Report all changes in the patient’s condition to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse as soon as observed, and practical.
•    Report all accidents and incidents you observe on the shift that they occur.
Admission, Transfer, and Discharge Functions
•    Ensure that the patient’s room is ready for receiving the patient (i.e., bed made, name tags up, admission kit available, etc.).
•    Greet patients and escort them to their room.
•    Introduce patient to his/her roommate, if any, and other patients and personnel as appropriate.
•    Make patient comfortable (i.e., put to bed, get water, etc.).
•    Inventory and mark the patient’s personal possessions, and store clothing as instructed.
•    Assist patients with packing their personal possessions when they are being transferred to a new room, or when being discharged.
•    Transport patients to new rooms or to the receiving area.
•    Assist with loading/unloading patients from vehicles as necessary.

Personnel Functions
•    Perform all assigned tasks in accordance with our established policies and procedures, and as instructed by your supervisors.
•    Follow work assignments, and/or work schedules in completing and performing your assigned tasks.
•    Cooperate with inter-departmental personnel, as well as other facility personnel to ensure that nursing services can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the patients.
•    Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.
•    Meet with your shift’s nursing personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services.
•    Report all complaints and grievances made by the patient.
 
•    Notify the facility when you will be late or absent from work, and follow all prescribed attendance policies and procedures.
•    Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals to your supervisor immediately.

Personal Nursing Care Functions
•    Follow patient plan of care as posted for staff in the designated location of the patient room or other area where kept.
•    Follow patient’s prescribed transfer plan, level of assistance as communicated in the designated location of the patient room or other area where kept. (I.e., mechanical lift, 2 person, etc.)
•    Participate in and receive the nursing report upon reporting for duty.
•    Follow established policies concerning exposure to blood/body fluids.
•    Assist patients with daily care; dental and mouth care (i.e., brushing teeth/dentures, oral hygiene, special mouth care, etc.), hair care (combing, brushing, shampooing, etc.), nail care (clipping, trimming, cleaning fingernails and toenails *NOT including diabetic patients*), shaving as directed, pericare, eye and ear care (i.e., warm/cold compresses, eye/ear instillation, cleaning eyeglasses/ hearing aides, etc.) as instructed.
•    Assist patients with bath functions (i.e., bedbath, tub or shower bath, etc.) as directed.
•    Assist patients with dressing/undressing as necessary.
•    Keep incontinent patients, and ALL patients, dry (i.e., change gown, clothing, linen, etc., when it becomes wet or soiled).
•    Change bed linens. Keep linens tight to avoid wrinkles from forming under the patient.
•    Make beds (occupied and unoccupied), and put extra covers on beds as requested.
•    Position bedfast patients in correct and comfortable position.
•    Assist patient with bowel and bladder functions (i.e., take to bathroom, offer bedpan/urinal, portable commode, etc.). Check and report bowel movements and character of stools as instructed.
•    Maintain intake and output records as instructed.
•    Assist patients in preparing for medical tests (i.e., lab work, x-ray, therapy, dental, etc.) and physical examinations.
•    Assist patients in preparing for activity and social programs (i.e., church services, parties, visitors, etc.).
•    Assist in transporting patients to/from appointments, activity and social programs, etc., as necessary.
•    Assist with lifting, turning, moving, positioning, and transporting patients into and out of beds, chairs, bathtubs, wheelchairs, lifts, etc. in accordance with assessed level of necessary assistance.
•    Assist patients to walk with or without self-help devices as instructed.
•    Perform restorative and rehabilitative procedures as instructed.
•    Change dressings, bandages, binders, etc., as instructed, and assist with the application of nonsterile (moist and dry) warm/cold com-presses.
•    Weigh and measure patients as instructed, recording temperatures, pulse, and respirations (TPRs), as instructed.
•    Answer patient calls and call lights or other notifications promptly.
•    Ensure that patients who are unable to call for help are checked frequently.
•    Check each patient routinely to ensure that his/her personal care needs are being met in accordance with his/her wishes.
•    Assist with the care of the dying patient.
•    Provide post-mortem care as instructed.

Special Nursing Care Functions
•    Observe and report the presence of pressure areas and skin breakdowns to prevent decubitus ulcers (bedsores).
•    Report all patient njuries, including injuries of an unknown source, including skin tears.
•    Provide daily indwelling catheter care and perineal care, including performing nonsterile (clean) vaginal irrigation/douches.
•    Assist with the application of slings, elastic bandages, binders, etc.
•    Give tepid sponge baths.
•    Provide daily Range of Motion Exercises. Record data as instructed.
 
•    Turn bedfast patients at prescribed intervals, at least every two (2) hours.
•    Perform diabetic urine testing (i.e., clinitest, acetest, etc.).
•    Assist with physical and respiratory therapy as instructed.
•    Perform special treatments as instructed.
•    Observe disoriented and comatose patients. Record and report data as instructed.
•    Turn all medications found in the patient’s room/possession over to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse.
•    Provide patients with Reality Orientation as instructed.
•    Watch for and report any environmental changes in room temperature, ventilation, lighting, etc.

Food Service Functions
•    Prepare patients for meals (i.e., take to bathroom, wash hands, comb hair, raise bed, position tables, place bibs, take to/from dining room, etc.).
•    Serve food trays. Assist with feeding as indicated (i.e., cutting foods, feeding, assist in dining room supervision, etc.).
•    Assist patients with identifying food arrangements (i.e., informing patient with sight problem of foods that are on his/her tray, where it is located, if it is hot/cold, etc.).
•    Record the patient’s food/fluid intake. Report changes in the patient’s eating habits.
•    Keep patients’ water pitchers clean and filled with fresh water (on each shift), and within easy reach of the patient.
•    Serve between meal and bedtime snacks.
•    Perform after meal care (i.e., remove trays, clean patient’s hands, face, clothing, take to bathroom, brush teeth, clean dentures, etc.).
•    Check rooms for food articles (i.e., food in proper container, unauthorized food items, etc.).

Staff Development Functions
•    Attend and participate in scheduled training and educational classes to maintain current certification as a Nursing Assistant.
•    Attend and participate in scheduled orientation programs and any and all in-service activities.

Safety and Sanitation Functions
•    Use doctor-prescribed restraints for patients in chair/bed as instructed, and document accordingly.
•    Check restrained patients at prescribed intervals, but at least every thirty (30) minutes, and release at prescribed intervals, but at least every (2) hours for range of motion exercises, taking to bathroom, etc.
•    Participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids.
•    Wash hands before and after performing any service for the patient, and before and after entering any isolation room/unit using soap and water, or alcohol sanitizer.
•    Keep the nurses’ call system within easy reach of the patient.
•    Immediately notify the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse of any patient leaving/ missing from the facility.
•    Follow established safety precautions in the performance of all duties.
•    Keep patients’ personal possessions off the floor and properly stored.
•    Keep floors dry. Report spills immediately.
•    Keep excess supplies and equipment off the floor. Store in designated areas.
•    Wash wheelchairs, walkers, etc., as instructed, clean, disinfect, and return all patient care equipment to its designated storage area after each use.
•    Perform routine housekeeping duties (i.e., clean bedrails, overbed table, nightstand, etc., that relate to nursing care procedures).
•    Before leaving work area for breaks, or at the end of the work day, store all tools, equipment, and supplies.
•    Report all hazardous conditions and equipment, safety violations, communicable or infectious disease to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse and Director of Nursing immediately.
•    Follow established smoking regulations. Report all violations.
•    Follow established isolation precautions and procedures.
•    Follow established procedures in the use and disposal of personal protective equipment.
•    Wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies (e.g., gait belts, mechanical lifts, etc.) when lifting
 
or moving patients.
•    Report missing/illegible labels and MS sheets to your supervisor.
•    Do not handle full strength chemicals unless specifically trained and approved to do so.

Equipment and Supply Functions
•    Use only the equipment you have been trained to use, and operate all equipment in a safe manner.
•    Use only the equipment and supplies necessary to do the job. Do not be wasteful.
•    Report defective equipment to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse, and inform them of your equipment/supply needs.

Care Plan Functions
•    Review care plans daily to determine if changes in the patient’s daily care routine have been made on the care plan.
•    Inform the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse of any changes in the patient’s condition so that appropriate information can be entered on the patient’s care plan.
•    Ensure that your notes reflect that the care plan is being followed.

Patient Rights Functions
•    Maintain the confidentiality of all patient care information.
•    Ensure that you treat all patients fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.
•    Make sure that you fully understand what constitutes patient abuse, including physical, verbal, sexual, mental abuse as well as misappropriation of patient property and patient neglect and that you do not act or speak in a manner that is abusive or neglectful to patients.
•    Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy.
•    Knock before entering the patient’s room, and adhere to all facility patient rights, privacy and HIPAA policies and procedures.
•    Report all grievances and complaints made by the patient to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse.
•    Report all allegations of patient abuse and/or misappropriation of patient property.
•    Honor the patient’s refusal of treatment request. Report such requests to your supervisor.

Working Conditions
•    Works throughout the nursing service area (i.e., drug rooms, nurses’ stations, patient rooms, etc.).
•    Moves intermittently during working hours.
•    Is subject to frequent interruptions by patients, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
•    Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset patients, family members, personnel, and visitors.
•    Communicates with nursing personnel and other department personnel.
•    Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends and holidays, in other positions, and in call-back situations (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.), when necessary.
•    Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
•    Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
•    Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB, Covid variants, AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses, and may be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
•    Required to wear uniform and adhere to dress code regarding shoes, jewelry and grooming.

Education
•    Must possess, the minimum education requirements necessary for obtaining Certification.

Experience
•    Must be an Arkansas licensed Certified Nursing Assistant.

Specific Requirements
•    Must be at least 18 years of age.
•    Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
•    Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
 
•    Must possess the ability to deal patiently, tactfully, with a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm with personnel, patients, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public on whatever maturity level at which they are currently functioning.
•    Must possess the ability and willingness to work harmoniously with other personnel.
•    Must be willing to incorporate new methods and principles into existing nursing practices.
•    Must be able to relate information concerning a patient’s condition.
•    Must not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of other individuals in the workplace.
•    Must be willing to follow all company, state, and regulatory policies related to Infection Control and Vaccination requirements.

Physical and Sensory Requirements
(With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)
•    Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
•    Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
•    Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position due to relating to and working with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people.
•    Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
•    Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with patients, personnel, and support agencies.
•    Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility.
•    Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a reasonable number of pounds (35-50) to a reasonable height (3-5ft) and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a reasonably minimum distance (5-10ft).
•    May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of patients during emergency situations.


Job Position Analysis Information
YES    Tasks assigned to this position do involve potential and/or direct exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious diseases, air contaminants, and hazardous chemicals
YES    Functions Require Repetitive Motion
YES    Weight Lifting requirements do apply.
YES    Functions Require Prolonged Sitting, Standing, and/or Bending