Health Care Assistant- Internal Transport (Hiring Incentive Offered)

SUMMARY

Hennepin Healthcare is hiring a .8 (64 hours per 2 week pay period) Health Care Assistant in the Transportation Department. This position is benefit earning. You will be required to work 8 hour shifts, days, evenings, and every other weekend. A sign-on bonus is available for qualifying positions and eligible external candidates. (current employees, rehires within a year, and those hired into the nursing assistant program are ineligible).    

Within the context of Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS) culture of Patient & Family Centered Care and under direct RN supervision, the Health Care Assistant contributes to the health and well-being of assigned patients by performing quality patient care, technical procedures and related duties that meet established standards.  Acts as a competent, caring and collaborative member of the patient care team. May provide clerical support for the unit including identified EHR duties, answering phones, coordinating unit communication, etc.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Using principles of Patient & Family Centered Care develops and maintains a positive working relationship with patient and family, team members, department and medical center personnel
• Assists patients with activities of daily living, including hygiene, grooming, and bathing
• Responds to patients call lights in a timely manner, identifies patient needs and provides patients with appropriate response or communicates needs to appropriate team member
• Performs intentional rounding in collaboration with the RN
• Takes and records patient's vital signs as prescribed by nursing protocol or physician order
• Measures, and records patient intake and output according to established protocol and order
• Conducts point of care tests as assigned and/or delegated
• Communicates any changes or pertinent information related to the patient's physical appearance and attitude, I & O, vital signs, and point of care testing to the nurse. Records which nurse was notified for all abnormal results  
• Keeps patient room neat, clean and orderly.  Changes bed linen as scheduled and as needed
• Escorts patients on foot or transports patients on carts, beds or in wheelchairs
• Procures and stocks equipment and supplies, and insures that equipment is operable and clean
• Greets and relays information to appropriate staff, physicians, or family members
• Takes inventory of patient belongings and valuables as well as documents and secures
• Collects specimens using clean technique and labels appropriately
• Disposes of trash, linens and supplies in an appropriate manner
• Ensures patient and supply rooms are properly stocked; linen is covered
• Supports unit and medical center compliance with   Regulatory standards, customer service and other initiatives
• May perform various technical procedures after training, competency validation, and upon delegation from a Registered Nurse, such as maintaining oxygen equipment, performing oral suctioning, routine incision care, providing skin care,  applying and changing non-sterile dressings, applying warm and cold compresses or non-prescription topical creams/ointments, 12 lead EKG's, phlebotomies, and discontinuing IVs, saline locks and foley catheters
• Records actions in the EHR.
• Performs clerical duties in EHR; answers phones and triages calls appropriately. 
• Performs all responsibilities/duties required by Patient Care Services as defined in the scope of service, to assure that the unique nature of the clients is addressed

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Education/ Work Experience:

• Current certification on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry upon hire* (Maintenance of certification/registry is not required after hire.) 

-And/or-

• Completion of one semester of clinical rotation within an accredited nursing program 

-And/or-

• Enroll in and successful completion of the Hennepin Healthcare determined Nursing Assistant program

-And/or-

• 6 months of acute nursing assistance experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• High school graduate or equivalent
• Basic Life Support
• Training/equivalent experience as a nursing assistant, CNA, or EMT
• Current student (enrolled) in a 4 year RN program
• Experience with EPIC and/or similar electronic health record system
• One year Nursing Assistant experience in a similar (hospital) setting

Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities: 

• Knowledge of basic medical terminology
• Basic computer knowledge
• Ability to work cohesively and respectfully with a diverse work force and patient population
• Ability to prioritize, organize, and communicate with multidisciplinary staff
• Ability to adapt to sometimes rapidly changing and unpredictable situations
• Ability to read and follow written instructions; understand and communicate verbal and written information
• Ability to perform job duties that meet departmental performance expectations as well as HCMC standards related to quality, accuracy, productivity, patient & family centered care, customer service, etc.

License/Certifications:

• Possession of a nursing assistant certificate from the Minnesota Department of Health may be required.