Assistant, Certified Nursing

Certified Nursing Assistant

The Certified Nursing Assistant participates in the care of psychiatric clients within the limitations of training and experience of a certified nursing assistant.

Minimum qualifications required for this position:

• A valid State of California (Department of Health and Human Services) Certification as a Nursing Assistant or Home Health Aide required.
• A valid certificate in CPR/CPI.
• Previous nursing assistant/home health experience in a psychiatric healthcare environment preferred.
• Must ability to participate in on-the-job training for first six (6) months.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Must have the ability to perform tasks involving physical activity which may include: lifting, bending and standing.

General statement of functions:

• Assist nursing and/or other treatment staff in making individualized nursing care plans and multidiscipline treatment plans for each assigned client(s).
• Plan and may supervise activities for client(s) with other treatment staff in accordance with treatment and program goals.
• Assist in creating and maintaining a therapeutic milieu within the assigned unit and/or program center wide as appropriate.
• Document observation and interventions according to the established clinical policies and procedures.
• Promote basic hygiene, safety, and activities of daily living (e.g. personal hygiene, problems related to nourishment, and other general health care needs of assigned client(s)).
• Assist client(s) on admission/discharge through appropriate orientation to facility or referrals for follow-up care.
• Interact with client(s) daily on an individual basis making appropriate interventions and reporting observations data to the team leader and on the client record(s).
• Conduct/lead client therapy groups as assigned.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings, in-service and required staff development training and certification.
• Practice confidentiality in all client, employee, and management related matters.
• Provided one-to-one nursing care for patients when necessary.
• Assist in preserving Kedren's mission, goals, and objectives; and help management in establishing its internal service delivery goals and objectives that are consistent with the organization's public service mission statement.
• Participate in the fundraising activities of Kedren.
• Assist in other duties and special projects as assigned.

Competencies:

• Attention to Detail – Accomplishes tasks through concern for all the areas involved, no matter how small. Monitors and checks work or information and plans and organizes time and resources efficiently.
• Client Focus – Identifies, analyzes, and implements evidence-based therapeutic interventions designed to achieve client goals; using research and technological advances; evaluating program outcomes and practice effectiveness; developing, analyzing, advocating and providing leadership for policies and services; and promoting social and economic justice.
• Compliance – Ensures compliance and examines patient information to insure that they comply with company and industry regulations, and service policies and procedures.
• Documentation – Writes clear, concise medical record notes (e.g., focus on referral problem, functional changes, duration, acute or long-term, functional impairment, recommendations, plan of action, results, adjustments, etc.).
• Mental Health/Psychiatry Knowledge – Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of mental health, mental illness and mental health services; integrates knowledge of societal, cultural, psychological, environment, spiritual and belief systems that influence mental health and illness.
• Plan of Care – Creates concrete therapeutic strategies, counseling and activities to implement to tackle mental disorders and associated disability; specifies the targets to be achieved and clarifies the roles of stakeholders in implementing the mental health plan.
• Professionalism – Thinks carefully about the likely effect on others of one's words, actions, appearance, and mode of behavior. Selects the words or actions most like to have the desired effect on the individual or group in question. Demonstrates respectful and effective relationships with colleagues and clients and their families.
• Resource Management – Identifies, enrolls and sustains resources such as people, technology, community services and programs effectively that can be utilized to fulfill the mission and vision of the organization to meet the needs of the clients to optimally live productive lives.
• Service Focus – Balances interests and needs of a variety of internal customers and clients; adjusts priorities to respond to pressing and changing demands. Anticipates and meets the need of the customer and client; achieves quality results; is committed to continuous improvement of services.
• Thoroughness -Demonstrates attention to detail and accuracy. Defines and organizes tasks, responsibilities, and priorities. Takes responsibility for timely completion.