Summary

Under the supervision of the Registered Nurse and within hospital and department policies and procedures, assists in caring for patients and/or families from admission to discharge.

Definition

A Nursing Assistant is a paraprofessional trained to provide personal care and related health care and assistance to individuals who are sick, disabled, or infirm, and who are residents of or receiving services from health care facilities or agencies licensed by the state and holds a license as a Nursing Assistant issued by the Department of Health.

Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers, and one another.

In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors that tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include:

• Instill Trust and Value Differences
• Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate

Responsibilities

Duties of Nursing Assistants

Collaborate with the Registered Nurse to organize work and set priorities.

Under the supervision of the Registered Nurse, performs:

Personal Care Skills

Basic Nursing Assistant Skills
As outlined by the Rhode Island Department of Health Professional Licensing and Facility Regulation.

Rehabilitation Skills
Performs activities of daily living and ambulates patients as appropriate.

Maintenance of a Safe Environment
Reports unsafe conditions or situations to the Registered Nurse, manager, or supervisor; reports equipment in need of repair and removes it from service.

Recognition and Reporting of Signs and Symptoms
Communicates all pertinent patient observations to the Registered Nurse.

Safety
Maintains quality assurance and infection control in accordance with established hospital and department policies, procedures, and objectives. Accurately documents data in the EHR, patient care flowsheet, and clinical data records. Demonstrates the ability to perform responsibilities in emergency/code situations. May function as a patient observer.

Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Basic Knowledge

• Current Rhode Island license as a Nursing Assistant.
• High school graduate or equivalent preferred.
• Ability to perform basic computer skills.
• Certified in American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLS).
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

Experience

• One year of experience as a Nursing Assistant preferred.

Working Environment and Physical Conditions

Works in healthcare environments such as acute care hospitals, physicians’ offices, and ancillary healthcare enterprises.

Physical demands include:

• Prolonged sitting, standing, and walking.
• Repeated bending, squatting, and stooping.
• May be required to lift/turn patients and equipment.

Independent Action

Works under the supervision of the Registered Nurse within the scope of hospital and department policies and practices and the Rhode Island Department of Health Professional Licensing and Facility Regulation.

Refers specific, complex problems to the supervisor where clarification of department policies and procedures may be required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.