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Work Shift

Day

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Summary

This position supports Mercy’s philosophy of patient centered care by providing safe and effective patient care by performing tasks and support functions alongside a clinic CMA, LPN, or RN.  Certified Nurse Assistants may fulfill an expanded role by performing additional tasks and responsibilities as needed throughout the clinic.

Job Description

Job Duties

• Provides safe and effective patient care by performing tasks and support functions as needed throughout the clinic.
• Rooms and prepares the patient for examination. This includes reviewing histories, allergies, reason for visit and taking vitals.
• Manages phone calls to patients as directed by the provider.
• Ensures that accurate and clinically relevant information is communicated with patients, their families, and co-workers at hand offs and other times as needed.  Takes all measures necessary to ensure that the appropriate and involved parties have communicated necessary information in order to allow for the best possible patient outcome.
• Observes and communicates to the CMA, LPN or RN any changes in patient condition and pertinent information regarding the needs of the patient and/or significant others.
• Organizes and prioritizes daily work, taking into account the needs of patients, families and other health care workers.
• Assists in identifying quality improvement opportunities and demonstrates support for changes in practice designed to improve performance.
• Prepares patient chart for upcoming visit.
• Prepares room and supplies prior to the visit.
• Rooms and prepares patients for examination. This includes assisting patients in the completion of questionnaires that document medical histories, allergies, and reason for visit. 
• Follows rooming standards inclusive of measuring and recording vital signs, height, and weight.  
• Collaborates/communicates with clinic staff related to specific patient concerns as needed.
• Assists other health care professionals, adhering to infection control/safety guidelines and confidentiality policies.
• Ensures that exam rooms are stocked and cleaned after use and at end of day.
• Cleans and maintains exam tables, blood pressure cuffs, EKG machines and glucometer.
• Checks in patients as needed.
• Performs department specific duties as outlined on the department specific developmental checklist.
• Attends departmental/hospital meetings, activities, or special projects per departmental guidelines.  
• Practices cost containment efforts by efficient use of time and resources, i.e., man-hours, patient charges, equipment, supplies, etc. 
• Other duties as assigned.
• Follows Mercy's safety guidelines, carries out job-specific safety duties and responsibilities, and promptly reports any unsafe conditions, situations, incidents and injuries. ​

Department Specific Duties:

Gastroenterology Clinic

• Provides patient instruction using pre-approved patient education materials specific to the chief complaint or for the health promotion of observed behaviors known to contribute to poor health, as directed by the provider.
• Prints after visit summary and completes discharge of patient from exam room. This may include scheduling a follow-up appointment, providing referral information or scheduling patients for testing procedures and providing instructions.
• Provides assistance obtaining specimens, labeling and disposition to the laboratory and explaining diagnostic procedures to patient as needed.
• Assists the patient in meeting basic human needs, only if the CMA/LPN/RN delegates such tasks after patient assessment and determination of the individualized care plan.  Performs daily, weekly and monthly compliance audits as determined.
• Preparation and assembly of hydrogen breath test kits and stool specimen collect kits ensuring accuracy and completeness.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• General knowledge and understanding of anatomy, the diagnosis process, pharmacology (drug classifications, side effects, interactions) physiology, lab values, sterilization techniques and safe administration of medications.
• Operational knowledge of nebulizers, spirometers, EKG machines and other medical equipment.
• Ability to successfully perform venipuncture, EKGs, spirometry and other procedures as required.
• Basic computer knowledge and navigation of an E.H.R.
• Demonstrates effective and age-appropriate communication as well as the ability to understand the needs of the patient including non-verbal communication, fears and anxieties and language/cultural barriers.
• Demonstrates support for changes in practice designed to improve performance.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, identify needs for changes in priorities and takes the initiative to recommend and implement changes in concert with their supervisor.

Professional Experience

• Previous Patient Care Tech or Certified Nursing Assistant experience preferred.

Education

• Education sufficient to obtain required licensure/certification.

Licensure, Certification, Registration

• Certified Nursing Assistant required.
• Current certification in Basic Life Support, in accordance with the American Heart Association required.
• Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse/Iowa Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter training required.  Employee must submit certification of completed training to Human Resources prior to start or transfer date.

Physical Requirements

Medium: Exert 20-50 lbs. of force occasionally and/or 10-15 lbs. of force frequently

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Mercy is an independent, community-based organization supporting the Cedar Rapids area for over 120 years.

Mercy is an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and therefore evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.