About the position
The Health Care Assistant position in the Burn Unit at Hennepin Healthcare is a part-time role that requires working 64 hours over a two-week pay period, primarily during overnight shifts and every other weekend. This role is integral to the Hennepin Healthcare System's commitment to Patient & Family Centered Care, where the Health Care Assistant will work under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN). The primary purpose of this position is to contribute to the health and well-being of assigned patients by performing quality patient care, technical procedures, and related duties that meet established standards. The Health Care Assistant will act as a competent, caring, and collaborative member of the patient care team, ensuring that patients receive the necessary support and care during their stay. In addition to direct patient care, the Health Care Assistant may also provide clerical support for the unit, which includes managing electronic health record (EHR) duties, answering phones, and coordinating communication within the unit. The role emphasizes the importance of developing and maintaining positive working relationships with patients, families, and team members, ensuring that all interactions are respectful and supportive. A hiring incentive is available for eligible external candidates, although current employees, contract workers, and former employees returning within one year are ineligible for this incentive. The position requires a proactive approach to patient care, including responding to call lights, assisting with activities of daily living, and performing intentional rounding in collaboration with the RN. The Health Care Assistant will also be responsible for taking and recording vital signs, measuring patient intake and output, conducting point-of-care tests, and maintaining a clean and orderly patient environment. This role is essential in supporting the overall compliance of the unit with regulatory standards and customer service initiatives, making it a vital part of the healthcare team.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with patients and families, team members, and medical center personnel using principles of Patient & Family Centered Care.
- Assist patients with activities of daily living, including hygiene, grooming, and bathing.
- Respond to patients' call lights in a timely manner, identifying patient needs and providing appropriate responses or communicating needs to the appropriate team member.
- Perform intentional rounding in collaboration with the RN.
- Take and record patients' vital signs as prescribed by nursing protocol or physician order.
- Measure and record patient intake and output according to established protocol and order.
- Conduct point of care tests as assigned and/or delegated.
- Communicate 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, recording which nurse was notified for all abnormal results.
- Keep patient rooms neat, clean, and orderly, changing bed linen as scheduled and as needed.
- Escort patients on foot or transport patients on carts, beds, or in wheelchairs.
- Procure and stock equipment and supplies, ensuring that equipment is operable and clean.
- Greet and relay information to appropriate staff, physicians, or family members.
- Take inventory of patient belongings and valuables, documenting and securing them appropriately.
- Collect specimens using clean technique and label them appropriately.
- Dispose of trash, linens, and supplies in an appropriate manner.
- Ensure patient and supply rooms are properly stocked and linen is covered.
- Support unit and medical center compliance with regulatory standards, customer service, and other initiatives.
- 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 EKGs, phlebotomies, and discontinuing IVs, saline locks, and foley catheters.
- Record actions in the EHR and perform clerical duties in EHR; answer phones and triage calls appropriately.
Requirements
- Current certification on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry upon hire (maintenance of certification/registry is not required after hire).
- Completion of one semester of clinical rotation within an accredited nursing program.
- Enrollment in and successful completion of the Hennepin Healthcare determined Nursing Assistant program.
- 6 months of acute nursing assistance experience.
Nice-to-haves
- High school graduate or equivalent.
- Basic Life Support certification.
- 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.
Benefits
- Hiring incentive for eligible external candidates.
