General Summary

Under the direction of professional nursing staff, provides direct patient care in the acute IP Behavioral Health setting. Directs group activities, takes vital signs, aids patients with activities of daily living. 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.

1. Performs testing and manages the care of the patient based on results achieved and clinical findings.
2. Records patient care along the continuum, including activities of daily living (ADLs): feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting and transferring.
3. Completes, documents and reports patient vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and reported pain level).
4. Assists in admission, transfer and discharge of patients.
5. Participates in cost effective strategies to optimize patient outcomes.
6. Promotes patient safety including fall prevention. Ensures the safety of the clinical environment for patients, visitors, and other staff members.
7. Maintains order and appearance of patient rooms and work area. Maintains patient care supplies and linen.
8. Provides post-mortem care.
9. Collaborates with members of the health care team to carry out the plan of care, including reporting observed changes in patients' condition.
10. Ensure patient comfort relative to their pain status.
11. Measures and documents dietary intake and patient urinary and stool output. Documents calorie count. Measures and documents patient weight.
12. Conducts indwelling urinary catheter care. Applies, maintains and removes external urinary catheter devices.
13. Conducts blood glucose monitoring.
14. Provides wound care to promote healing and maintain structural integrity of the skin. Performs skin care and hygiene and reports impaired skin integrity and/or wound impairment. Assists with appropriate strategies and/or treatment measures to provide wound care.
15. Assists with collection of patient specimens for laboratory testing. Incorporates proper techniques for patient identification, method for collection of appropriate specimen(s) and documentation.
16. Provides orthopedic/rehab device care: e.g. braces, splints, CPM. Dons/doffs compression wraps/stockings.
17. Participates in hourly patient rounding in collaboration with the health care team.
18. Responds to patient triggered alarms, including call light, chair alarm, bed alarm, tele-sitter alarm, etc.
19. Complies with the The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals within scope of practice.
20. Detects, reports, and acts to avoid or correct safety risks. Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority.
21. Provides professional vigilance to assigned patients, including when assigned as a patient safety companion.
22. Incorporates safe lifting techniques and body mechanics in daily practice.
23. Improves patient flow and prevents care delays.
24. Performs other duties as assigned.