Qualifications
- Grade 12 education (MB Standards)
- Health Care Aide Certificate from a recognized educational institute
- Ward Clerk certification from a recognized educational institute
- Other combinations of suitable education and experience may be considered
- Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) Training as delineated in Prairie Mountain Health Policy PPG-00002 CPR Training
- Proficiency with Microsoft programs (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint), as well as Internet applications and other Information Technology
- Demonstrated organizational skills, and the ability to work independently
- Demonstrated problem solving and decision making skills
- Demonstrated flexibility to facilitate changes in techniques and procedures in a changing environment
- Demonstrated knowledge and competence of skills and concepts related to the position
- Demonstrated communication skills
- Ability to respect and promote confidentiality
- Ability to perform the duties of the position on a regular basis
- Ability to respect and promote a culturally diverse population
- Ability to work effectively and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, clients and within interdisciplinary team
Position Summary
The Unit Assistant acts as a member of the health care team, assisting with patient care and providing basic supportive care as directed. The Unit Assistant demonstrates a commitment to the vision, values, goals, and objectives of the region/facility/unit.
Responsibilities
Overview:
Advocates On Behalf Of The PMH As a Whole
- Promotes the mission, vision and goals of the PMH
- Maintains confidentiality in accordance with the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA), Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act (FIPPA), RHA policies and any other applicable legislation
- Adheres to all policies and procedures
- Reports for work as scheduled in a prompt manner
Acts as a receptionist to assigned area
- Schedules patients to receive planned services
- Receives and relays telephone, P.A. (public announcement) and other messages for physicians, ward personnel and patients as necessary
- Receives and directs all patients/visitors in a kind and courteous manner
- Collects and distributes mail for assigned area
Ensures patient charts are maintained/filed in a timely and accurate manner
- Transcribes physician orders, completes requisition for lab, etc., and ensures charts are complete
- Assembles charts on arrival of the patient and maintains adequate supply of pre-assembled charts
- Assembles, checks and returns charts to Health Records upon discharge or death of patient
- Processes identification signs for above patient beds and ensures accuracy daily
Provides administrative support, general correspondence and filing
- Accuracy, efficiency, timeliness, and diligence are displayed in the accomplishment of all assigned duties with a minimum of direct supervision
- Ability to prioritize duties and responsibilities
- Maintain a neat and orderly work environment
- Maintains records and/or statistical reports as required
- Supports admission, transfer and discharge under the direction of manager
- Maintains an adequate filing system under the direction of the manager
- Maintains W.H.M.I.S. Manual under the direction of the manager
- Orders and stocks supply for the unit, and obtains quotes as assigned by the manager
- Maintains revisions to policies and procedures and ensures they are placed in the appropriate manuals
- Maintains unit ledgers/records and compiles statistical monthly reports
- Arranges follow-up appointments with physicians following patient discharge when required
- Faxes telephone consult forms to appropriate agencies (i.e.: echograms, CT scans, angiograms, etc.) and notifies patient of dates as required
- Maintains and updates patient diet orders
- Ensures appropriate ward kitchen inventory
Ensures effective communication within the department and the organization
- Communicates and consults with the manager
- Attends staff meetings
- Notifies staff of departmental meetings and maintains records of same
- Maintains communication book and memo board
- Effective communication skills and interpersonal relationships are demonstrated on an ongoing basis
Maintains a clean, sanitary and organized work environment including equipment
- Ensures the equipment is in good working order and reports faulty devices to the charge nurse, Clinical Resource Nurse, or Clinical Team Manager
- Adheres to the cleaning schedule which includes cleaning of common ward equipment which includes but is not limited to stretchers, patient lifts, blood pressure machines
Maintains a clean, sanitary and organized environment for patients/ residents/ clients
- Serves meals / hands out meal trays following meal service where applicable
- Provides a neat and clean environment for all patients/residents maintain to code of cleanliness and sanitation as outlined in the infection Control Procedures
- Makes beds
- General cleaning and tidying of the patient/ resident care areas
Ensures personal care, comfort and dignity of patient/resident
- Provides basic personal care to patients/clients in a prompt efficient manner while treating each patient/resident with respect
- Uses techniques that enable the patient/resident to utilize their maximum ability while making personal choices
- Ensures personal comfort and care of patient/residents during completion of activities of daily living
- Meets basic human needs related to elimination, hygiene, mobility, nutrition, recreation, rest, safety, social and spiritual needs
- Washes hair, skin, nail, oral, ear and perineal, back massage and care to pressure areas, as well as, colostomy and ileostomy care
- Assists with hearing aids, glasses and prosthesis
- Assists with bowel and bladder care routines, preserving each patient/resident abilities and dignity
- Assist with dressing and undressing, promoting the patient/resident individuality, dignity and freedom of choice
- Assists each patient/resident meets the dietary requirements by feeding, utilizing special devices, monitoring and encouraging food and fluid intake and assessing feeding and swallowing disorders related to a medical diagnosis
- Guides patient/resident to participate in activities which are meaningful, purposeful and therapeutic within their abilities and desires
- Maintains a clean, sanitary and organized environment for patients/ residents/ client’s activity
Promotes safety and health in the workplace
- Positions, turns and transfers patients/ residents using proper body mechanics that provide for safety of both patients/ elders and self
- Operates mechanical equipment according to established safety standards
- Follows established safe work practices
- Uses appropriate safety devices
- Ensures that equipment is in good working order and reports faulty mechanisms to the nurse in charge
- Knowledgeable in facility fire, safety and disaster plans as well as policies and procedures related to security and patient/resident care
- Reports incidents that result in injury to patients/residents, staff, visitors or self and reports unsafe acts and workplace hazards
- Assists in determining the cause of accidents and supportive to corrective action
- Initial clean-up of bodily fluids
- Cooperates with the Workplace Safety and Health Committee and others on safety and health issues
- Utilized interventions to minimize the need for restraints
- When ordered maintains and monitors restraints application
Maintains adequate inventory of personal care items on the ward and patient rooms
- Restocks hygiene supplies as per schedule
- Replenishes supplies in patient/ resident care areas
- Adheres to the cleaning schedule which includes assistive mobility aids, tub room, utility rooms patient/resident personal care items
- Distributes personal laundry where applicable
Prepares instruments for sterilization
- Gathers, washes and redistributes sterile supplies such as bedpans and urinals
Assists with mobility and rehabilitative support
- Assists with mobilization and provision of rehabilitative support for patients/residents based on their individualized care plan
- Uses rehabilitative devices including transfer belts, walkers, wheel chairs and whirlpool tubs according to operating instructions
- Assists patients/residents to maintain independence
- Provides rand of motion exercises while doing ADL’s (where applicable)
- Weighs patients/residents and records accordingly
- Collects specimens as directed
- Application of splints
Ensures documentation
- Keeps current by reading the communication book where applicable; ADL sheets, care plans, report book and staff meeting minutes
Ensures client/patient/resident relationships
- Demonstrates a kind and compassionate approach with genuine concern for the patients/residents
- Supportive of an environment that allows the freedom of choice, privacy and personal beliefs
- Responds to call bells promptly
- Respects patient/resident individuality and plans care around the patient/resident routine as much as possible
- Encourages patient/resident autonomy to preserve dignity and self-esteem
- Promotes quality of life
- Acts as a patient/resident advocate
- Encourages patients/residents to participate in programs and provides personal care at appropriate times to facilitate participation
- Takes opportunities while providing care to spend quality one-to-one time with patients/residents
- Recognizes the family/significant other as an integral patient/resident care
- Maintains care and security of patient/resident possessions
- Readily offers assistance to any of the patients/residents
Ensures effective communication within the department and organization
- Communicates with department staff, individually and as a group, to promote efficient functioning and high morale
- Communicates with other managers to achieve efficient function of all services
- Liaison with outside agencies as required
- Follows proper accurate shift report
- Documents in the patient/resident flow sheet
- Reports all pertinent information and observation in a timely manner
- Answers the phone professionally and relays messages appropriately
- Reports unusual incidents to the nurse in charge and completes occurrence reports as required
- Pursuant to the Regional Health Authority Act, Interlake- Eastern RHA is designated bilingual (English/ French). Accordingly, all employees accept the responsibility to support clients in their official language of choice.
Demonstrates professionalism within the code of conduct
- Demonstrates the ability to accept and adjust to change
- Assumes responsibility for own actions
- Maintains a professional appearance in conjunction with the IERHA Dress Code Policy
- Refrain from the use of perfumes or heavily scented beauty products
- Maintains an acceptable state of health in accordance with the Attendance Support & Assistance Program (ASAP)
- Exhibits confidence and initiative in the work environment
Ability to recognize and pursue self-development opportunities
- Maintains and updates professional skills, certification(s), leadership skills and knowledge through continuing education programs, literature reviews, publications and conferences
- Maintains knowledge of new developments in departmental areas through journal review, interest groups, lectures and committee work
- Participates in continuous quality improvements
Assists With Training New Staff As Required
- Participates in orientation and mentoring of new staff as assigned
Other
- Performs other duties as assigned.
