CNA

Certified Nursing Assistant

St. Charles Health System

The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) staffs various units throughout St. Charles Health System. These departments provide 24/7 specialized care to patients throughout their hospitalization and discharge.

The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) provides patient and family focused care as part of the health care team in accordance with the St. Charles Health System mission, philosophy, policies and procedures and within the parameters established by the Oregon State Board of Nursing. This position does not directly manage any other caregivers.

Essential Functions and Duties:

• Reviews and follows directions in the delivery of care of assigned patient(s) within their scope of duties.
• Assists patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, and mobilization. Provides personal hygiene care and ensures patients' dignity and comfort.
• Promptly responds to patient call lights and attends to patients' needs or notifies the appropriate staff for assistance to ensure timely and effective care.
• Accurately measures and records patients' vital signs, such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and oxygen saturation, and promptly reports any abnormalities to the nursing team.
• Assists patients with repositioning in bed, ambulation, and transferring to/from beds, wheelchairs, and stretchers. Supports fall prevention strategies and ensures safety during patient movement.
• Alerts nursing staff if there is a change in the patient's behavior or condition or the patient requires assistance or other nursing intervention outside the scope of practice of the CNA.
• Provides and contributes to a safe environment for caregivers, patients and guests. Supports the nursing team in decreasing harm across the continuum of patient care as authorized per the duties and standards of the CNA role.
• Follows hospital infection prevention protocols by maintaining cleanliness, disinfecting equipment, and ensuring that personal protective equipment (PPE) is used appropriately.
• Maintains competency in supportive care for the patient, operates equipment safely and properly, and carries out nursing orders within the scope of practice of the CNA.
• Maintains accurate and thorough documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) for all care provided, adhering to hospital and regulatory standards.
• Transports patients, blood, specimens and other items as needed.
• Once trained, performs additional authorized duties such as:
• Interrupting and re-establishing nasogastric (NG) suction
• Placing electrodes or leads and run electrocardiogram (EKG) or for telemetry
• Suctioning nose or oral pharynx
• Established traction equipment: removing and re-applying
• Applying and removing continuous passive motion (CPM) machine
• Also performs the following duties as needed:
• Receives and transmits messages (personal, telephone, computer) or inquiries to the appropriate destination.
• Assists with data input using EMR, staffing and charge capture systems, electronic bedboard, charge entry and charge reconciliation.
• Performs other general administrative duties as required (e.g., emails, filing, ordering supplies, etc.)
• Stocks nurse servers in patient rooms and specialty carts or areas on a routine basis.
• Assists in maintenance of equipment.
• Orders departmental non-medical supplies.
• Assists with maintenance of scheduling and various operational processes as directed by leader.
• Schedules/cancels patient appointments.
• Demonstrates awareness of, and supports, St. Charles departmental and operating unit goals through participation in continuous quality improvement, daily huddles and departmental activities.
• Participates in activities that promote professional growth and development of self and others.
• Promotes patient's independence, respects privacy, and maintains patients' rights to decide about care and reports findings.
• Gives clear directions and reinforces teaching to patients and families regarding basic health care needs.
• Communicates (both written and orally) effectively and maintains professional relationships with caregivers, medical staff, patients, and guests.
• Identifies work-related problems with possible solutions and implements solution(s) (within scope of duties), as appropriate.
• Participates in creating a healing environment that supports all aspects of the care environment and the wholeness of each individual, patient and caregiver.
• Provides a therapeutic presence in service to others by purposefully responding to the needs of patients in a caring way, including introducing oneself and explaining role in patient's care, asking the patient his or her preferred name, sitting with the patient to determine his or her care goals, active listening, communicating effectively and appropriately through touch, eye contact, etc.
• Supports the vision, mission and values of the organization in all respects.
• Supports Lean principles of continuous improvement with energy and enthusiasm, functioning as a champion of change.
• Conducts all activities with the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality. Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures, supporting the organization's corporate integrity efforts by acting in an ethical and appropriate manner, reporting known or suspected violation of applicable rules, and cooperating fully with all organizational investigations and proceedings.
• Delivers customer service and/or patient care in a manner that promotes goodwill, is timely, efficient and accurate.
• May perform additional duties of similar complexity within the organization, as required or assigned.
• For Home Health/Hospice/Wound caregivers only:
• Drives vehicle in a safe and appropriate manner to all locations.
• Reports to assigned locations in an appropriate manner and enters patient's homes, assisted living and long-term care residences, jails or other designated locations in compliance with that facilities protocol(s). Adheres to outside agency's conduct guidelines.

Education:

• Required: As required by certification. Completion of additional SCHS CNA training course within 45 days of hire.
• Preferred: N/A

Licensure/Certification/Registration:

• Required: Certified Nursing Assistant with the Oregon State Board of Nursing.
• AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider certification.
• Valid Oregon driver's license and ability to meet SCHS driving requirements (for Home Health/Hospice/Wound caregivers only).
• Preferred: N/A

Experience:

• Required: N/A
• Preferred: CNA or other previous experience in a patient care setting. Customer service and clerical experience.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform the job safely.

Additional Position Information:

• Must be able to:
• Interact with a diverse population and professionally represent St. Charles Health System
• Work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Multi-task and work independently
• Sit for long periods of time remaining alert and monitoring patient
• Must have:
• Strong teamwork and collaborative skills
• Attention to detail
• Excellent organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability and experience with computer applications, use of electronic medical record keeping systems and MS Office.

Physical Requirements:

• Continually (75% or more): Standing and walking, keyboard operation, use of clear and audible speaking voice and the ability to hear normal speech level.
• Frequently (50%): Sitting, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 1-25 pounds. The use and operation of a motor vehicle for Home Health and Wound Caregivers.
• Occasionally (25%): Bending, stooping/kneeling/crouching, climbing ladder/stepstool (varies by area), reaching overhead, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 25-50 pounds, grasping/squeezing, ability to hear whispered speech level.
• Rarely (10%): Climbing stairs