CNA / Ward Clerk - Emergency Department

CNA In The Emergency Department

Overview Hourly Rate: Min: $21.74 Max: $33.30 Per-Diem

Definition of Position: CNA is responsible for carrying out the mission, vision and quality commitment of Good Shepherd Health Care System. The CNA in the Emergency Room provides direct patient care and assists with various clinical and non-clinical duties in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment. The CNA works under the direction of Registered Nurses (RNs) and physicians to ensure patient comfort, safety, and well-being while facilitating smooth operations within the emergency department.

Other duties may be assigned, but essential job functions include:

• Ward Clerk: Works under the direct supervision of the Emergency Services Registered Nurses. Maintains and organizes patient records. Accurately maintains logbooks. Responsible for most of the telephone communication within the department. Assists in the smooth operation of the department by handling various clerical tasks, ensuring that patient flow is efficient, and that communication between medical staff, patients, and families is clear.

Responsibilities Essential Job Functions:

• CNA Patient Care: Assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting. Measure and record vital signs, such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respiratory rate. Assist with patient transfers, positioning, and ambulation as directed. Provide comfort measures (e.g., adjusting position, offering blankets, or providing support during examinations). Assist with the collection of specimens (urine, stool, blood) as needed. Help prepare patients for exams, procedures, and diagnostic tests. Observe patients for changes in condition and report significant changes to the nursing staff. Responsible for hourly patient rounding and document in the EHR.
• Collaboration and Communication: Work alongside nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals to deliver optimal care in the emergency room. Communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare team members regarding patient needs, concerns, and statuses. Record patient information accurately in the electronic health record (EHR) system, including vital signs, patient updates, and any changes in condition. Support for Procedures and Treatments: Assist during medical procedures such as wound care, dressing changes, and minor procedures under the direction of a physician or RN. Prepare patient rooms and assist in maintaining a clean and organized environment. Ensure that patient equipment, such as monitors, oxygen, and suction devices, are functioning properly.
• Organizational Tasks: Assist with tasks as needed, including updating patient charts, stocking supplies, and maintaining clean and sanitized patient areas. Help maintain emergency room supplies, ensuring adequate stock of linens, supplies, and necessary medical equipment in patient rooms.

Compliance and Safety: Follow hospital protocols and procedures to maintain patient safety and ensure high-quality care. Adhere to infection control policies, including hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and sterilization techniques. Ensure confidentiality of patient information in compliance with HIPAA regulations.

Ward Clerk Clerical and Administrative Support: Answer phone calls, direct them to appropriate departments or personnel, and provide information to patients and families. Handle various forms, patient records, and other documentation. Ensure that all required forms are completed accurately. The clerk may need to document details regarding consultations with specialists, treatments administered, and any ongoing care plans. Arrange patient admits and transfers and make sure all forms are completed correctly.

Skills and Qualities:

• Attention to Detail: Ensuring all patient information is accurate and up to date is essential in the fast-paced environment of an ED.
• Communication Skills: The ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare professionals is crucial.
• Multitasking: An ED ward clerk needs to manage various tasks simultaneously in a high-pressure environment.
• Confidentiality: Handling sensitive patient information with the utmost discretion and in compliance with healthcare privacy regulations (e.g., HIPAA in the U.S.) is essential.
• Inventory Management: Although the primary responsibility for medical supplies rests with clinical staff, ward clerks may help ensure that medical equipment and supplies are readily available and well-stocked for patient care. This may involve checking inventory, noting low stock levels, and informing the relevant department to reorder supplies.

All Aspects of position The employee supports the hospital mission, vision, values, policies, and procedures. Participates in required education for DNV programs as applicable to position (reference program education curriculum). Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Education Required: High School graduate or GED required. Preferred: College education
• Licenses/ certifications/ registrations Required: CNA Certification from the State of Oregon. Basic Life Support (BLS). MOAB within 6 months of hire
• Preferred: NA
• Experience Required: The ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills. Ability to lift and move patients as needed, with physical stamina to stand, walk, and move frequently.
• Preferred: Experience in an acute care or emergency room setting is preferred but not required.
• Other: Ability to work with culturally diverse population. Able to provide a CNA level of patient care; age specific, cultural, physical and psychosocial well-being.

Equipment/Tools/Work Aids: Computer (order entry system), printer, photo copier, patient records, telephone system, accu-check monitors, BP cuffs, thermometers, patient beds, wheelchairs, stretchers, bed scales.

Physical Requirements: The physical and sensory functions described below are essential to the successful performance of this position. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

The position requires sufficient auditory ability to detect and respond to various sounds, including patient alarms and verbal communication. Clear and effective communication is essential, as is the ability to interact with patients, families, and healthcare team members. Visual acuity is necessary for observing patient conditions, reading documentation and monitors, and distinguishing colors for clinical purposes, such as identifying medications or safety indicators. Tactile perception is also important for assessing physical characteristics such as temperature, size, shape, or texture during patient care. Motor coordination is required for reaching, grasping, handling, and performing fine motor tasks necessary for the use of medical equipment and procedures. The position also involves occasional stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling when assisting patients or accessing equipment. Walking and standing are typically continuous throughout the shift. The role requires the ability to lift to 50 pounds independently and involves frequent pushing, pulling, carrying, or repositioning of objects or patients weighing up to 25 pounds. There may also be occasional lifting or transferring of individuals weighing over 100 pounds, with the expectation that appropriate lifting techniques, mechanical aids, or team assistance will be used to ensure safety. May sit for long periods of time.

Working Conditions: This position is performed primarily in an indoor healthcare environment, such as a hospital, clinic, or long-term care facility. While the work setting is protected from outdoor weather conditions, it may be subject to variable indoor temperatures. The role involves frequent exposure to infectious and contagious diseases, hazardous materials, and medical equipment, with the expectation that all staff follow appropriate safety protocols and utilize personal protective equipment (PPE) as required. The health care environment can be fast-paced and unpredictable, requiring the ability to respond quickly to changing circumstances, including high-pressure or emergency situations. The work setting also involves multiple simultaneous demands and varying levels of noise due to medical equipment, staff activity, and patient needs.