Special Attendant

Special Attendant

Summary:

Conducts and assists with nursing programs as assigned. Performs a variety of tasks associated with the daily care and treatment of patients. Works under the clinical supervision of a licensed nurse to provide patient care, helping patients meet their physical and emotional needs.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Carries out or assists with physical care of patients including bathing, feeding, taking vital signs, heights, weights and other activities of daily living as indicated.
• Maintains current CPR and Bridge Building certifications.
• Initiates and participates in therapeutic interventions by using principles of de-escalation, redirection and approved Bridge Building techniques for prevention and management of behavior.
• Escorts patients to and from therapies, dining area and other areas of the hospital for treatment and programming.
• Sit with patients on one-to-one observation status.
• Escorts and/or drives patients to off-grounds appointments and activities.
• Observes patients’ physical condition and reports changes to the RN.
• Appropriately and accurately reports pertinent information, both verbal and written.
• Appropriately applies skills in psychosocial care of patients: Encourages patients and interacts with them to socialize and participate in activities and programming.
• Serves as a role model for appropriate behavior to patients.
• Demonstrates the ability to deal therapeutically with adverse behavior.
• Recognizes psychiatric emergencies and intervenes appropriately.
• Participates in conducting active treatment programs.
• Provides care according to treatment plan objectives and goals.
• Observes and accurately documents on medical record and flow sheets, using proper format and terminology
• Follows safety standards and precautions, policies, procedures and regulations.
• Safely demonstrates the ability to apply restraint/seclusion procedures per policy.
• Demonstrates consistent interactions and approaches with patients and co-workers, promoting dignity and respect.
• Demonstrates the ability to set appropriate healthy boundaries and limitations according to individual treatment plans.
• Properly and consistently utilizes standard precautions.
• Completes unit housekeeping duties as assigned/indicated.
• Serves on hospital committees and work groups as requested.
• Attends required hospital/department in-services.
• Use thermometer, stethoscope, sphygmomanometer and other medical equipment.
• Follow verbal and written directions.
• Light cleaning duties are required at times.
• Use technology for charting electronic information.

Job Requirements:

High school diploma or GED and basic computer skills are required. Must obtain CPR and Bridge Building certification, demonstrate ability to perform techniques, and maintain certification throughout employment.

• Compassionate
• Ability to handle stressful situations
• Good verbal and written communications skills.
• Good knowledge of medical and hospital terminology preferred
• Good knowledge of MS Office and data entry preferred

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

Does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Difficulty of Work:

Incumbents assist with direct patient care and other activities of daily living, therapeutically interacting with patients, providing active treatment, escorting patients to programs and appointments, and providing for the health and general welfare of patients, being mindful of their risk group.

Responsibility:

Incumbents have a wide variety of duties involving multi-tasking, talking, reading, writing, interacting with patients and others. They must be alerted to changes in behavior along with changes in physical condition of the patient.

Personal Work Relationships:

Involves contact with hospital staff, vendors (internal and external), visitors, family members and community services provided by churches, physicians, and other merchants to provide necessary information as allowed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines.

Physical Effort:

Involves frequent sitting, lifting, bending, stooping, walking, standing for long periods of time and on occasion running. Strength and dexterity are needed at times to intervene with agitated patients. Must be able to perform Bridge Building interventions and CPR.

Working Conditions:

Works in a psychiatric hospital room, unit environment, or program area. At times, the incumbent may be required to work different areas on or off grounds. Potential for physical injury related to patient behavior and management of that behavior.

Skill - Required / Desired Amount of Experience:

• High School Diploma or High School Equivalency (HSE). - Required
• Certified or willing to become certified in professional rescuer CPR/AED. - Required
• Ability to follow oral and written directions. - Required
• Ability to respond effectively in emergency situations and to control adverse behavior - Required
• Specialized knowledge of, and ability to apply, psychiatric nursing care practices including administering medications. - Highly desired
• Specialized knowledge of, and ability to apply, behavior modification, self-defense and restraining techniques as needed without injury to residents. - Required
• Working knowledge of resident's behavior and ability to anticipate and deal with behavior changes on a daily basis. - Highly desired
• Ability to write reports and keep records and charts accurately. - Required
• Working knowledge of institution and unit procedures. - Nice to have
• Ability to perform and assist residents in performing housekeeping duties and daily living activities. - Nice to have

VIVA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants have an equal opportunity for placement, and all employees have an equal opportunity to develop on the job. This means that VIVA will not discriminate against any employee or qualified applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status