Nursing Assistant - Shreveport, United States - Department Of Veterans Affairs

Description

Summary

The Nursing Assistant (NA) is located in the Nursing/Patient Care Services and is an integral part of a team of nursing staff that consistently demonstrates knowledge of patient care, utilizes critical thinking skills, clinical competence and knowledge of the practices and procedures which she/he coordinates at the patient bedside.

Duties

Major duties for the position include (but are not limited to):

• Aide in personal hygiene tasks such as bathing, showering, dressing, oral/denture care, nail care, shaving/hair care, skin care, bed making.
• Positioning and movement of patients to include maintain body alignment of patients, position and turn patients, walking patients, range of motion with patients and transfer techniques.
• Assist with nutrition and fluids by providing meal preparation assistance, run errands to get groceries if needed, and report any nutritional concerns to Registered Nurse.
• Observe, report and record patient bowel and bladder function. Assist patients with bed pans, urinals, dispose of waste properly, apply external urinary draining devices.
• Provides emotional support by interacting with patients and families, helping them to feel comfortable.
• Utilize effective communication skills such as observing, listening, reflecting and identifying non verbal messages and recognize communication barriers.
• Follow Standard Precautions to include hand washing, utilizing Personal Protective Equipment, follow isolation procedures and maintain a clean and safe workspace when providing care.
• Recognizes emergency situations, calls for help, initiates emergency procedures until help arrives and continues to be available to the response team until the emergency is resolved.
• Adheres to all facility and community-based safety regulations and safety measure related to patients at risk for falling.
• Maintains a high level of privacy and dignity of patients to ensure implementation of safeguarding confidential patient information.
• Collects and delivers specimens as directed to include recording and reporting blood glucose testing.
• Takes and records temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respirations, pulses oximetry, height and weight.
• Records patients pain rating using approved rating scales and reports any changes in vital signs including patient condition to the RN.
• Recognizes and respects patients cultural, spiritual, religious backgrounds and beliefs and the right to choose.
• Provides assistance with simple housekeeping tasks to include meal preparation, dust, vacuum, sweep, straighten up, wash dishes, clean bathrooms/kitchen, laundry, dispose of trash and changing linens.