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Independently performs difficult patient care duties in an assigned ward, clinic or specialty area of a general hospital.

This class is distinguished from the Hospital Attendant B class by the increased level of difficulty, independent initiative required and the minimal review of regular patient care procedures. Further distinguishing features of this class relate to functions frequently performed under general guidance of hospital nurses and physicians such as taking blood pressures and determining the best time for administration of treatments without direction from an attendant supervisor, and independent initiative reflected in the daily performance of duties without specific instructions, such as the planning of a patient’s intake of fluid according to prescribed dosage and the questioning of a patient in order to ascertain the patient's general condition. Supervision is normally received from a nurse in charge of a shift or a doctor on specific assignment.

Examples of duties characteristic of positions in this class:

1. Receives patient assignments from superiors and independently uses patient records to ascertain the specific patient care prescribed for the assigned patient.
2. Independently records treatments and results on patient’s chart along with pertinent observations and changes in signs and symptoms in patient’s condition.
3. Observes patient's physical appearance and symptoms and notifies the head nurse when irregularities or unfavorable symptoms are detected.
4. Takes blood pressures and plans the intake of fluid according to the total amount to be administered.

 

HOSPITAL ATTENDANT SPECIALIST Page 2

 

5. Independently maintains inventory of supplies and linen, and orders new and additional items when stock is low.
6. Performs patient care duties in order to ensure patient comfort; changes linen and answers patient’s requests for assistance.
7. May serve in a full-time capacity as an operating room attendant performing duties involving preparation of patients and specialized equipment and apparatus for operations, assisting physicians in application of specialized operative equipment, serving as an operative circulating nurse in the nurse’s temporary absence, and decontaminating operating rooms after surgery; may position patients and adjust surgical chairs required in brain surgery; and may assist with set up of intravenous fluids.
8. May serve in a full-time capacity as a mental hospital attendant on a psychiatric ward involving independent ward checks to ascertain proper patient care, and to assist in the administration of electric shock treatments; performs personal hygiene and comfort activities, such as bathing and toileting patients, operation of vehicular patient transport and administering vitamins or laxatives under supervision of a registered nurse.

Completion of elementary school or equivalent, eighteen months of experience in patient care, one year of which must have been in the specialized area to which assigned and satisfactory completion of a training course for Hospital Attendants, Mental Hospital Attendants, or Operating Room Attendants. ·

Considerable knowledge of general and mental hospital ward practices or specialized surgical techniques and procedures and methods of handling patients; an understanding of the attitudes and requirements of patients; ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions; good physical condition, average hearing and vision.