Certified Nursing Assistant - Medical Telemetry Unit - Hosp of the Univ of Penn Cedar - PT Rotating

Responsibilities:

• Report: Receives written/verbal report at the beginning of each shift from the registered nurse (RN) regarding the care that is to be delivered to the assigned group of patients, or for patient needing constant observation. Gives report when leaving unit, and at the completion of the shift regarding the care that was delivered
• Any abnormalities that occur during the shift are to be reported as they occur to the RN as well as to the oncoming CNA.
• Assists in Assessment: Identifies the patient per hospital policy before carrying out functions. Assists with data collection for nursing history and physical e.g., vital signs, ht. wt., blood sugar results, functional status and communicates changes to the RN in a timely fashion. Participates in respectful communication with patients, families and coworkers. Provides patient and family information to the registered nurse for coordination of care and discharge planning. Observes skin changes and reports discoloration, abrasions, infestations or skin breakdown.
• Planning: Assists in setting mutually agreed upon realistic individual patient goals. Integrates the RN’s directions re: the patient’s plan of care into the care given to the patient. Gives RN report before the end of the shift regarding the patient’s response to the plan of care issues, and at various times during the shift to report unusual findings e.g., abnormal blood sugar results, vital sign changes, pain etc.
• Intervention: Promotes infection control by using the appropriate hand-washing techniques. Follows standard precautions and any other isolation precautions as dictated by the patient’s condition. Maintains a safe environment and protects the patient from injury by observing the patient who may be at risk for falls, confusion, disorientation, wandering or suicidal behaviors
• Follows Constant Observation Policy. Applies and monitors patients in restraints per policy and per medical order. Observes or monitors behavior/health state and responses to therapy. Temperature, Pulse, Respiration. Blood Pressure. Neurological Checks. Vascular Checks. Height and Weight. Intake and Output. Bowel and Bladder Function Checks. Pain. Communicates pertinent observations to appropriate members of the health care team in a timely fashion. Participates in multidisciplinary rounds on the patient care unit. Performs patient care rounds per unit policy. Participates in staff and unit council meetings. Accountabilities Works in collaboration with all members of the healthcare team. Reports findings to nurse concerning the patient and or family which may impact patient care. Performs or assists the patient with activities of daily living such as bathing, (bed, tub, shower, or sitz) grooming, eating, feeding, range of motion, ambulating, transferring and oral hygiene. Participates in the prevention and treatment of skin breakdown. Applies current accepted methods of heat and cold therapy as directed by the nurse. Provides for the patient’s oral dietary needs using currently accepted methods. Provides for the elimination needs by giving a bed pan, urinal, emptying urinary and or bowel appliances or implementing the bowel program under the direction of the RN. Assists with colostomy irrigations. Assists with vaginal irrigations. Applies urosheath/condom catheter. Removes foley catheter as directed by the nurse and monitors urinary out put as directed. Administers cleansing enemas as ordered. Performs postmortem care. Assists the physician to perform physical exams. Assists with oxygen therapy only and does not regulate the flow of oxygen. Encourage the use of the pulmonary toilet by using the incentive spirometer, coughing, turning and deep breathing. Utilizes the appropriate equipment for patient lifting. Reinforces health care instruction to patients according to the directions of the nurse. Displays competence in using the following equipment and reports findings to the registered nurse: Pulse oximeter, bladder scanner, 12 Lead ECG, Data Scope, Electric Fetal Monitor (as applicable) Glucometer, Foley removal, Lift and transfer devices Performs continuous bladder irrigations per direction of RN
• Documentation: Documents findings, interventions and patient outcome results on patient documents. This may include I&O, VS, Bladder scanner results, pulse ox results, glucometer results or other findings. Documents using complete signature, status “CNA” and date and time on all charted entries.
• Evaluation: Assists in evaluating nursing care given by comparing the patient's functional status from day to day and discussing this with the nurse.

Credentials:

• Basic Cardiac Life Support (Required)
• Certified Nurse Aid (Required)
• CNA Certification by the State of Pennsylvania

Education or Equivalent Experience:

• H.S. Diploma/GED (Required)
• Education Specialization: Graduate of a certified nursing assistant program - in lieu of certification, must be a nursing student matriculated in an accredited BSN nursing program having minimally completed the nursing foundations/fundamentals clinical course with a 3.0 GPA overall and in the nursing major and continue to maintain a 3.0GPA in all nursing major subjects. In order for nursing students to maintain their position as a CNA, they must continue in a matriculated BSN program and present evidence with an official transcript documenting a 3.0 GPA overall and in the nursing major each semester to the Nursing Network Center. Nursing Students are required to submit grade reports/transcripts to the Nursing Network Center within60 days of their course completion. Nursing students employed as CNAs, must immediately (within 24 hours) and in writing report to their supervisor and the Nursing Network Center if they have not sustained the academic GPA requirement or discontinued/withdrawn from their matriculated BSN program. Failure to meet and maintain nursing student requirements in lieu of certification will result in termination of your nursing assistant position.