Nursing Assistant- Resource Pool

Nursing Assistant Position at UPMC McKeesport

UPMC McKeesport is seeking a full-time nursing assistant to join our resource team. An additional 10% will be added to your base pay rate as a perk of this position.

Candidates are required to work 40 hours per week in a rotating schedule.

The nursing assistant plays a vital role in delivering high quality patient care by assisting nurses and healthcare providers in daily clinical and personal care tasks. Responsibilities include monitoring vital signs, assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), collecting specimens, and ensuring a clean and safe patient environment. The nursing assistant may also work collaboratively with nurses to perform EKGs and phlebotomy procedures. The nursing assistant must demonstrate compassion, strong communication skills, and a commitment to patient-centered care while adhering to all healthcare protocols and safety standards.

Direct Patient Care

• Provide direct patient care as directed by the registered nurse (RN), including activities of daily living such as bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, and ambulating patients.
• Perform routine patient care tasks, including obtaining vital signs, patient weights, intake and output measurements, and blood glucose monitoring.
• Provide companionship, supervision, and one-to-one observation for patients as assigned.
• Deliver patient nourishments, fill water pitchers, and distribute patient mail.
• Provide diversion activities to help reduce or prevent the use of restraints.
• May apply, monitor, and remove patient restraints in accordance with physician orders and hospital protocols.
• Understand and implement rehabilitation routines and philosophies, including functional independence measures (FIMs), within the scope of practice.

Patient Monitoring & Communication

• Observe patients and promptly report changes in condition or status to the RN.
• Provide feedback to the RN regarding patient care needs and patient progress.
• Respond appropriately to emergent situations within the scope of the nursing assistant role.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team.
• Constructively receive feedback and direction from leadership and clinical staff.

Unit Support & Patient Transportation

• Contribute to overall unit operations by responding to call lights and telephones, passing meal trays, and transporting patients.
• Acquire, distribute, and stock supplies and equipment necessary for patient care delivery.
• Perform messenger functions and assist with ordering, charging, and crediting supplies.
• Set up patient care equipment within the scope of the nursing assistant role.
• Maintain adequate stock levels in patient rooms and unit supply areas.

Environment of Care & Equipment Management

• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized environment that promotes patient safety and recovery.
• Complete department safety checks and ensure patient care areas remain orderly.
• Change bed linens, empty linen hampers, and maintain cleanliness of patient rooms and unit areas.
• Clean department-specific equipment and ensure hallways remain free of unnecessary equipment.
• Return equipment to designated locations and report equipment malfunctions to the appropriate department.

Documentation & Regulatory Compliance

• Document patient care and observations in the medical record according to established procedures.
• Strictly adhere to hospital policies, patient care standards, and confidentiality requirements.
• Comply with safety policies, infection prevention practices, standard precautions, and bloodborne pathogen protocols.
• Maintain current heart saver CPR certification.
• Successfully complete the functional independence measure (FIM) examination as required bi-annually.

Professional Development & Team Collaboration

• Demonstrate accountability and responsibility for assigned duties.
• Establish professional, respectful, and collaborative working relationships.
• Participate in self-evaluations and performance reviews as requested by leadership.
• Identify learning needs and communicate them to the unit director.
• Actively seek opportunities to improve knowledge, skills, and job performance.
• Request assistance with planning and prioritizing work activities when needed.
• Suggest and support process improvements and departmental initiatives.
• Demonstrate awareness of how individual actions impact department efficiency and team performance.
• View challenges as opportunities for growth and contribute positively to the work environment.

High school diploma or equivalent. If no previous hospital or pre-hospital training, successful completion of UPMC nursing assistant training program or nursing student that has completed one clinical rotation. Knowledge of body mechanics and transfer techniques. Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing. Access to medications is limited to the distribution of the medication to the nurse.

Licensure, certifications, and clearances: Certified nursing assistant (CNA) preferred. CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.

Basic life support (BLS) OR cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

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Current licensure either in the state where the facility is located or, if the facility is in a state covered by the multistate nursing licensure compact (NLC) agreement, a multistate license issued by a participating NLC state. Hires and current employees working on an out-of-state NLC license who later change their residency to the state where the facility is also located will have 60 days upon changing their residency to apply for licensure within that state.

UPMC is an equal opportunity employer/disability/veteran