NURSING ASSISTANT 44191

7/1/90 E

This is a single class responsible for performing a variety of routine physical and clinical tasks in support of nursing activities located in hospitals, outpatient treatment room, clinic, school or home health operations.

Complexity of Work: Positions in this class perform routine tasks which may include hospital and clinic duties such as providing direct patient care including hygiene and comfort measures, treatment and basic objective assessment. Collecting urine specimens, utilizing litmus paper to determine protein and bacterial growth, sterilizing instruments using an autoclave, ordering supplies, directing patients through clinics, securing height and weight measurements and blood pressure, and audio and visual acuity readings. Other tasks include performing electrocardiograms; enemas; colostomy care and irrigations; applying sterile and non-sterile dressings; handing instruments to physicians; occasionally performing routine lab tests such as fingersticks for hematocrit, hemoglobin, and blood sugars; documenting patient care activities and records as required; performing home health duties such as assisting the client at home with bathing, dressing and skin care; educating client and family about the home environment including safety and home management; providing adequate nutrition to the homebound client through meal planning, preparation and shopping; providing instruction in range of motion exercises; instructing parents in the care and safety of infants and children; and performing light housekeeping chores to assure the comfort and safety of homebound patients. Administers minor first aid.

Supervision Given: This class does not typically supervise the work of others.

Supervision Received: This class receives immediate supervision from a higher level professional or medical position. This class receives general supervision regarding patient interviews, sample collection, and those functions carried out away from agency facilities for patients. All tasks are carried out in accordance to physician's orders or as a result of a nursing care plan with well-defined procedures.

Scope: This class provides direct services to patients. Duties performed represent a segment of the nursing care program.

Impact of Actions: Provides safe and appropriate patient care to improve health or enable patients to remain in their home as opposed to being institutionalized.

Personal Contacts: Frequent internal and external contact with patients, their families and clinic staff to provide care or to acquire information.

Knowledge: Positions in this class require some knowledge of current nursing practice and patient care, basic clinic and laboratory procedures, nutrition and meal planning and preparation, home management, personal care techniques and infection control.

Skills: None identified for this class.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to communicate both orally and in writing, to perform a variety of housekeeping tasks, to lift and handle patients, and to follow orders.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

Licenses or Certification: A valid Virginia driver's license may be required for some positions.

Education or Training: Graduation from high school or equivalent nurses' aide training.

Level and Type of Experience: Work experience in home health, hospital or clinic setting.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This class is a result of the Classification Review/Specification Update Program and revises the Nursing Assistant class which replaced the Public Health Nursing Aide A and B. This class is effective July 1990.