General Summary:

Under the direction of professional nursing staff, provides direct patient care. Takes vital signs, checks surgical dressings, aids patient’s with activities of daily living. This role performs blood draws and collects specimen samples. Observes and collects data and communicates about the patient’s status in order to identify needs and provides needed care. Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary patient care services team.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks:

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Performs testing and manages the care of the patient based on results achieved and clinical findings.

Records patient care along the continuum, including activities of daily living (ADLs): feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting and transferring.

Completes, documents and reports patient vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and reported pain level).

Assists in admission, transfer and discharge of patients.

Participates in cost effective strategies to optimize patient outcomes.

Promotes patient safety including fall prevention. Ensures the safety of the clinical environment for patients, visitors, and other staff members.

Maintains order and appearance of patient rooms and work area. Maintains patient care supplies and linen.

Provides post-mortem care.

Collaborates with members of the health care team to carry out the plan of care, including reporting observed changes in patients’ condition.

Ensure patient comfort relative to their pain status.

Measures and documents patient urinary and stool output. Documents calorie count. Measures and documents patient weight.

Assists with indwelling urinary catheter care. Applies, maintains and removes external urinary catheter devices. Performs bladder scans, measures post void residuals and documents. Inserts both intermittent and indwelling catheters, documenting volume output.

Conducts blood glucose monitoring.

Performs venipuncture for drawing blood samples and established IV access.

Performs nasal swabs.

Gathers equipment required and initiates placement IV for the patient as directed by the registered nurse.

Education & Experience

High school diploma or equivalent required.

Current Maryland state certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) required.

One (1) year of previous experience preferred.

Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.