Nursing Assistant - DM (45558)

Under general supervision of the Diabetes Clinical Nurse Manager of the Hozhoogo Iina Wellness Program: the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) serves as a front-line health service technician on a patient care team, and performs basic patient care services and technical tasks under the direction of the physician or other licensed medical provider. The CNA performs a variety of technical (non-professional medical) and administrative tasks related to the treatment and care of patients in the ambulatory environment. The CNA will assist with the SDPI Grant activities which includes data tracking, gathering, analyzing, and understanding data. The clinical duties require training and demonstrated competency, while not requiring the knowledge and skills represented by the licensure of full professional nurse education. The CNA provides basic nursing care requiring knowledge and application of standard procedures and instructions and supports the nursing staff.

Upholds the principles of WIHCC’s Vision, Mission, and Value Statements. Maintains confidentiality of all privileged information at all times.

This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Maintains regular attendance and punctuality.
• Greets patients and provides basic nursing care to patients with a variety of injuries and illness. 
• Facilitates clinics, screens patients by taking and recording all vital signs, and determining the main reason for visit.   
• Makes entries on patient’s charts and records other data as required in RPMS and EHR.
• Obtains, documents, and reports repeated vital signs based on policy and patient condition to nurses and providers.
• Escorts patients into examining rooms and to other areas in the facility; utilizes wheelchairs, gurneys, Hoyer Lifts, etc. as needed.
• Assists provider in examination of patients by explaining procedures, positioning, draping, and assembling instruments and supplies. 
• Applies and removes binding and bandages (arm slings, ace bandages, etc.) and applies simple dressings as directed. 
• Performs and obtains tests and procedures, such as EKGs, cardiac monitoring lead placements, weights/heights, point of care waived tests (rapid flu, HgbA1C, glucose reading, UA, etc.).
• Reports any unusual conditions or emergencies to the team nurse: DM Family Nurse Practitioner, DM Clinical Nurse Manager, and Clinic Charge Nurse.
• Ensures patient room and equipment is properly cleaned and restocked after patient care and between patients.
• Assists with community screening and wellness events in the community.
• Active participation in the duties of the cleaning and sterilizing of medical instruments in the autoclave room and maintaining their training and competence with the UC-SCN and Infection Control Preventionist.
• Maintains a clean and safe patient environment.
• Performs general maintenance duties after all patient care needs are met, including cleaning, arranging, and restocking supply cupboards; cleaning and sorting supplies, instruments, and equipment; calling attention to deficiencies in supplies and equipment; cleaning utility room; and bagging soiled linens. These maintenance duties will not supersede patient care assignments or requested tasks.
• Reports observations relative to patient’s condition and reaction.
• Provides patient education and provides accurate documentation.
• Performs quality control and provides accurate documentation.
• Provides medical interpretation as needed.
• Requires completion of tasks or duties assigned by a supervisor.
• Upholds all principles of confidentiality and patient care to the fullest extent.
• Adheres to all professional and ethical behavior standards of the healthcare industry.
• Adheres to WIHCCs Personnel Policies and Procedures, departmental policies, rules, and regulations.
• Interacts in an honest, trustworthy and dependable manner with patients, employees, visitors, and vendors.
• Possesses cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Maintains compliance with all Human Resources requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

High School Diploma or GED. Certified Nursing Assistant required. One year nursing experience preferred. Valid BLS/CPR certification required. Bilingual skills in English and Navajo language preferred.  Must maintain a valid unrestricted and insurable driver’s license.  Must successfully pass a background investigation and maintain suitable requirements for a Child Care position. This position is considered as a Child Care position, which requires a satisfactory background check investigation and is subject to the requirements of the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, as amended (henceforth referred as the ICPFVP Act).

Knowledge, Skills, Ability

• Knowledge and skill sufficient to readily acquire orientation to the organization, the nursing environment, its staff members, and operating procedures.
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to meet the personal hygiene needs of patients for the purpose of adding good health practices and to provide comfort measures.
• Knowledge of, and skill sufficient to use, nursing care terminology and test for measuring and recording vital signs; for obtaining and labeling specimens, and for assisting inpatient examinations for the purpose of accomplishing needed care and communicating with patients, doctors, and nurses.
• Knowledge and skill sufficient to provide safety, security, privacy for the patients and to keep patient information confidential.
• Knowledge of strong work ethics in the workplace.
• Knowledge of basic application of confidentiality.
• Knowledge of duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills, e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Ability to safely use transportation equipment such as gurneys, wheelchairs, Hoyer lift.
• Ability to be dependable in attendance and job performance.
• Ability to meet attendance, overtime (if necessary), and other reliability requirements of the job.
• Ability to accept and learn from feedback.
• Ability to effectively communicate both in written and verbal.
• Ability to provide exemplary customer service at all times.
• Ability to interact positively with others and possess great interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multitask and perform well under pressure.
• Ability to have self-confidence.
• Ability to be a great team player.
• Ability to accept and learn from supervisor/peer critique.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of the organization.

Physical Demands:

While performing the essential functions of this position, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel objects and equipment, reach with hands and arms, and communicate effectively by talking and hearing. The employee frequently must stand, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and may occasionally use taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in an office setting or outdoor work environment with moderate noise levels. Work environment may involve exposure to physical risks, such as blood borne pathogens, hazardous chemicals, or operating potential dangerous equipment, and requires adherence to all safety protocols. Required work schedules may include evening, weekend, overnight shifts, extended hours, or irregular schedules as operational needs dictate.  

As required by P.L. 93-638, absolute preference will be given to qualified Navajo applicants.  If there is no qualified Navajo applicant, preference will be given to qualified American Indian applicants.