Nursing Assistant

As our Nursing Assistant (NA), you will perform essential direct patient care, working under the guidance and direction of a Registered Nurse, often while actively pursuing your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification.

Every day you will provide comprehensive patient care, including bathing, oral care, feeding, ambulation, and monitoring vital signs. You will also manage other duties such as inventory, documentation, clerical tasks, dietary assistance, light housekeeping, and computer input, directly supporting the nursing unit's operational needs.

To be successful in this role, you will possess a strong capability for basic patient care, demonstrate meticulous attention to detail in all tasks, and effectively collaborate within the nursing team to ensure optimal patient well-being and a supportive care environment, showcasing dedication to advancing your healthcare career.

• Provide for patients' personal care, including but not limited to: taking vital signs, cleansing bath, back and skin care, oral hygiene, care of dentures, hair and nail care, perineal care, and shaving male patients. Assist patients with toileting needs (bedpan, urinal, commode). Assist with elimination aids, such as colostomy care and Foley catheter care. Maintain a clean and neat environment. Make beds, maintain a clean, safe environment for patients, and keep patients' equipment clean. Incorporate Dignity Health standards for nurse bundling into daily routine.
• Assist patients with diet and nourishment. Assist with meals, feed patients as necessary, and assist with menus. Keep patients supplied with fresh drinking water. Measure and record oral intake and output.
• Must attend 50% or more of staff meetings. Must attend all mandatory meetings and classes. Perform other related job duties as needed or assigned. Assist in admission, transfer, transport, and discharge procedures as assigned. Consistently adhere to all aspects of patient bundling with all patients.
• Update whiteboard as related to position responsibilities. Perform hourly rounding as directed by team leader. Document on rounding log: pain level, positioning, and toilet needs. Demonstrate awareness of professional responsibility by being a role model for peers and subordinates while maintaining practice within the patient's bill of rights and DH core values. Adhere to DH standards and behaviors by promoting teamwork and a positive work environment. Model cooperative behavior with other staff members and act in a professional manner, using effective lines of communication. Participate in problem-solving processes in which unit-based problems are identified and a plan is made and implemented for correction. Adapt well to changes, seeking clarification when necessary.
• Actively participate in setting personal goals annually and submit a plan for attaining goals. Maintain skill set specific to the needs of the patient population. Follow policies with regard to tardiness, attendance, dress code, and use of time.
• Sitter services. Observe patients who are in need of 1:1 observation by sitting in the patient's room at all times. Verbalize the importance of constant visual observation and not leaving the patient at any time (including when the patient has visitors) unless the charge nurse has coordinated a rest or meal break. Document on the special observation checklist every 15 minutes. Complete a room search for a safe environment check, removing any inappropriate items. Observe multiple patients when aggregated together as deemed necessary by the nurse. Relay patient needs to the nursing staff for prompt attention. Report changes observed to the nurse. Protect patient privacy under video surveillance during hygiene activities, treatments, and when requested, as appropriate. Assist the nurse caring for the patient(s) with hygiene and activities of daily living if appropriate. Assist the nurse caring for the patient(s) with patient requests for water or food as directed when appropriate. Provide conversation and socializing as a means of diversion when appropriate. Protect the patient from injury by removing potentially harmful items or asking for assistance from the nursing staff. Communicate effectively with members of the interdisciplinary treatment team, patients, families, and visitors utilizing knowledge of and demonstrated skills related to interpersonal relationships and communication styles appropriate to the individual's uniqueness and age. Provide a safe and healthy environment for patients, families, visitors, and the interdisciplinary treatment team by utilizing knowledge of proper body mechanics and infection control standards. Communicate in language appropriate for age. Allow control and choices over situations and environment, as appropriate to the individual's condition and situation. Recognize the importance of confidentiality and allow for privacy needs. Recognize signs of abuse/neglect potential.

Required

• High School Graduate General Studies or 2 years equivalent work experience, upon hire or
• High School GED General Studies or 2 years equivalent work experience, upon hire and
• Certificate Other Certified Nurse Assistantcertification training, upon hire or
• Completion of a nursingfundamentals class and are current enrollment in an accredited nursing school, upon hire or
• A graduate from an accredited LVN or RN nursing program.
• Basic Life Support - CPR, upon hire

Founded in 1910, Dignity Health - Mercy Hospital is a 229-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Bakersfield, California. Serving nearly 90,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including Level II NICU, cancer care, women’s health, and orthopedics. Additionally, Mercy Hospital Downtown & Mercy Hospital Southwest have been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. They are both Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Centers. Mercy Hospital Downtown offers the only inpatient Oncology Unit in Bakersfield while Mercy Hospital Southwest has the only Obstetric Emergency Department in Bakersfield.

One Community. One Mission. One California