CNA - Wound Care

Full-time Description

JOB SUMMARY:

Assist professional nursing personnel in providing patient care in assigned areas to patients.

EDUCATION, CREDENTIALS & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Active GA CNA Certification required.
• Previous experience preferred.
• High school graduate or equivalent
• Active American Heart Association BLS certification within 30 days of hire.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Performs all job responsibilities in alignment with the mission and vision of the organization.
• Performs other duties as required and completes all job functions as per departmental policies and procedures.
• Maintains current knowledge in present areas of responsibility (i.e., self-education, attends ongoing educational programs).
• Attends staff meetings and completes mandatory in-services and requirements and competency evaluations on time.
• Wears protective clothing and equipment as appropriate.

GENERAL SKILLS:

• Ability to communicate in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Additional languages preferred.
• Strong written and verbal skills.
• Basic Computer Skills

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• General environment: Works in a well-lighted, air-conditioned area, with moderate noise levels.
• May be exposed to high noise levels and bright lights.
• May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids, or infectious organisms.
• May be required to change from one task to another or different nature without loss of efficiency or composure.
• Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur.
• May be scheduled as needed including overtime.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & DEMANDS:

• Have near normal hearing: Hear alarms/telephone/normal speaking voice.
• Have near normal vision: Clarity of vision (both near and far), ability to distinguish colors.
• Have good manual dexterity.
• Have good eye-hand foot coordination.
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks/motion.
• Continuously within shift (67-100%): Standing, Walking.
• Frequently within shift (34-66%): Bending/Stooping, Pushing/Pulling, Lift/carry up to 20lbs, Lift/carry greater than 20 lbs. with assistance.
• Occasionally within shift (1-33%): Sitting, Climbing, Twist at waist, Lift/Carry greater than 50 lbs. with assistance, Reaching above shoulder.

MISSION STATEMENT:

QUALITY HEALTHCARE: In our continuing effort to enhance the quality of life for the communities we serve, the Hospital Authority of Miller County is committed to the delivery of superior, safe, cost-effective healthcare through the provisions of education prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

• Consults with and keeps supervisor informed of unit activities, needs and problems related to patient care.
• Complies with established nursing standards.
• Maintains established department, unit, hospital policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance, safety, environmental and infection control.
• Follows established routines and utilize supplies and equipment in a cost-effective manner.
• Maintains a clean, orderly, safe environment for patients and personnel.
• Cooperates with other personnel to achieve department objectives and maintain good employee interdepartmental and public relations.
• Maintains patient rights and confidentiality of patient information, and abides by established communications code. 
• Fosters teamwork by offering assistance to others.
• Responds to requests in a prompt, friendly manner.
• Avoids excessive unscheduled absence.
• Accrues 12 hours of continuing education per year as policy states. 
• Demonstrates a calm, professional manner during a crisis or emergency situation. Determines specific nursing intervention to resolve patient problems.
• Documents attendance at continuing education programs.
• Reports for scheduled shift on time; prepared to assume duties.
• Reports to work in proper uniform or attire. Adheres to dress code.
• Varies work schedule of shift (working overtime, leaves early when requested, work shift other than regularly scheduled as required) to meet department staffing needs.
• Attends and participates in meetings and is responsible for all information communicated at meetings.
• Infant / Children
• Modifies the interview techniques to adequately assess the child patient by identifying the physical, psychosocial, and educational needs common to this age group.
• Observes parent / child interactions and child’s general appearance, i.e. abuse, neglect.
• Provides education / explanation in easily understood terms to reduce stress/ fear.
• Encourages and supports presence of family.
• Adolescent
• HAMC Internal
• Modifies the interview techniques to adequately assess the adolescent patient by identifying the physical, psychosocial, and educational needs common to this age group.
• Recognizes patient’s needs to assert independence and reluctance to express dependency needs and anxiety about hospitalization. Modifies interventions to meet these needs.
• Provides reassurance and support when there is anxiety regarding potential altered body images.
• Provides for privacy.
• Recognizes need for peer support.
• Provides teaching specific to educational needs with routine reinforcement because of tendency toward denial and non-compliance.
• Adult
• Modifies the interview techniques to adequately assess the adult patient by identifying the physical, psychosocial, and educational needs common to this age group.
• Recognizes potential for increased stress related to dependency needs of others, i.e. children, elderlyn parents, anxiety regarding lifestyle changes due to illness.
• Identifies fear related to potential altered body image.
• Geriatric
• Modifies the interview techniques to adequately assess the geriatric patient by identifying the physical, psychosocial, and educational needs common to this age group.
• Identifies increased physical / emotional dependency needs and availability of support networks.
• Recognizes potential for compromised skin integrity and provides preventative measures.
• Monitors intake of prescribed diet and other nutritional supplements each meal.
• Notes changes in elimination patterns.
• Identifies increased sensitivity to climate changes. Provides heating and cooling as needed.
• Determines presence of disability affecting mobility and sensory acuity and provides for safety measures.
• Modifies provision of nursing interventions to reflect the responses unique to the geriatric patient.
• Applies To All Age Groups
• Greets and orients patient to room.
• Completes admission vital signs, height, and weight within 15 minutes of admission. Records weight accurately - reports
• Re-checks patient’s vital signs every 4 hours or as ordered / instructed by nurse.
• Records weights accurately and reports changes.
• Communicates patient care needs or changes to the primary nurse or Charge Nurse throughout the shift and as necessary.
• Responsible for following privacy concepts and other policies as stated in the HIPPA policy and procedures.
• Patient Documentation
• Knows patient rights and responsibilities / information management.
• Reports completely, briefly, and accurately re: patient status when transferring responsibility of care to another person/shift.
• Utilization Management Program
• Avoids excessive unscheduled absence.
• Participates in the hospital’s risk management program by reporting all untoward events or abnormal findings to the Charge Nurse at time of occurrence.
• Assesses individual patient rooms and unit environment for safe / sanitary conditions.
• Corrects or reports hazardous or unsafe conditions.
• Identifies, sequesters, and reports malfunctioning equipment to the appropriate person immediately.
• Utilizes supplies and equipment with efficiency and charges appropriately.
• HAMC Internal
• Recognizes signs and symptoms of possible child/adult/elderly abuse and immediately notifies Charge Nurse to alert appropriate agency.
• Patient Care Responsibilities
• Ensures each patient’s general hygiene needs are met daily.
• Notifies nurse of any skin areas with breakdown or redness.
• Performs hand washing before and after contact with each patient.
• Immediately disposes of biomedical and hazardous waste in labeled biomedical/ bio hazardous waste container. 
• Obtains patient’s vital signs and ensures notification of the nurse of any abnormal finding or significant changes.
• Provides post-mortem care.
• Explains all procedures and treatments to patients and/or significant other at each occurrence. Verifies with 2 patient identifiers.
• Observes for / recognizes untoward reactions to prescribed therapies/diagnostic procedures.
• Reports amount, color, and characteristics of gastric output to the nurse.
• Performs ostomy care.
• Performs peri care for patients with catheters every shift and PRN. Documents performance.
• Monitors urine output as ordered and records on appropriate form.
• Collects urine for urinalysis and urine C & S, notifies nurse of inadequate urine output.
• Interpersonal Relations
• Fosters teamwork by offering assistance to others. Notifies nurse of any skin areas of with breakdown or redness.
• Provides positive welcome to all clients and family members.
• Shows consideration in interaction with patient/family and other health team members by demonstrating therapeutic listening skills and cooperation. Acknowledges and responds tactfully to all requests.
• General Responsibilities
• Reports for scheduled shift on time; prepared to assume duties.
• Reports to work in proper uniform or attire. Adheres to dress code.
• Clocks in on arrival and out upon leaving.
• Follows policy for reporting in sick or absent 100% of the time.
• Leaves for meal break on time and returns on time.
• Varies work schedule of shift (working overtime, leaves early when requested, work shift other than regularly scheduled as required) to meet department staffing needs.
• Works overtime only with appropriate approval when requested by manager or supervisory approval.
• Schedules all vacation days with supervisory approval.
• Attends and participates in meetings and is responsible for all information communicated at meetings.
• Attends all hospital mandatory in-services on a timely basis as scheduled.
• Follows Universal Precautions and infection control procedures at all times.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Follows Code of Conduct policy.
• Adheres to dress code; appearance is neat and clean.
• Completes annual educational requirements.
• Maintains regulatory requirements.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Reports to work on time and as scheduled; completes work within designated time.
• Wears identification when on duty; uses computerized time clock system correctly.
• Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion.
• Attends annual review and/or skills fair and department in-services, as scheduled.
• Attempts to end conversations and other interactions in a positive manner; leaves others with a good impression of the Hospital Authority of Miller County and its employees.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission statement of the organization.