Job Description

Our Patient and Families

8D is a 20-bed, Critical Care unit which provides care for critical and moderate care medical-surgical patients, as well as those patients who are in transition from ICU to general care and rehabilitation floors. Our patient population requires highly skilled nursing care for the acute and chronic ventilated patient as well as those patients who have difficulties weaning from ventilator support. We care for a broad variety of medical diagnosis and service many different medical teams in the institution.

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

Under direct supervision from a Registered Nurse or other designated supervision, provides direct patient care or miscellaneous technical support by performing delegated procedures of a specialized and technical nature, which may include obtaining hemodynamic measurements, setting-up and maintaining specialized clinical equipment and performing delegated clinical or laboratory procedures, changing dressings, assisting with admitting and discharge procedures.  Assist with more complex procedures and perform complex diagnostic testing.  Develop and recommend changes in patient care activities to improve the quality of patient care services.  Under FLSA, incumbents in this position are non-exempt.    

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

Observation/Monitoring

• Obtains vital signs, temperature, height/length, weight, oxygen saturation and pain scores; reports abnormal values to RN.  Obtains other measurements (i.e., head circumference, abdominal girth) per unit standard.
• Responds to monitor alarms.
• Utilizes palpation/auscultation and Doppler to determine heart rate and blood pressure.
• Observes, monitors, and reports the overt physical condition of assigned patient(s).
• Responds to physiologic monitor alarms based on unit training and competencies.  Alarms should be silenced or paused prior to an activity that will trigger an alarm such as bathing, drawing blood or getting a patient out of bed as delegated by RN.  Ensures that alarms are on when activity is completed and/or before leaving the patient.
• Measures and records intake and output.
• Functions as a sitter.
• Assists physician/provider during diagnostic procedures; assists and supports patient before and during procedures; assists in specimen collection.
• Applies and changes ECG electrodes and pulse ox probe; attaches patient to travel (ECG and A-line) monitor.
• Places monitor strips on inpatient records.

Specimen Collection

• Performs point of care testing; maintains and calibrates equipment and supplies.
• Collects blood specimens from arterial, CVP and PIC lines.
• Collects specimens, including urine, stool, sputum and swabs, and performs urine determination including sugar, acetone, specific gravity protein, pH.
• Performs finger/heel stick blood collection and chemstick test.    
• Initiates, maintains and records 24-hour urine collection.
• Transports blood and laboratory specimens.

Intravenous Lines

• Discontinues peripheral IVs.
• Removes peripheral IV dressings.
• Primes peripheral (without additives) and central/pressure heparin set-ups (after bag spiked by RN); times and dates bag/tubing per policy.

Patient ADLs

• Assists patients with, or administers routine personal hygiene including baths, oral care, skin care, umbilical cord, and circumcision care.
• Performs preventative skin care, pre-operative preps, perineal care.
• Provides toileting/bedpan/urinal; remove/empty foley catheters; weighs diapers.
• Accompanies, escorts, ambulates, moves, turns, dangles, lifts, transports and attends/holds/positions patients.
• Assists with range of motion; applies rehabilitation equipment; releases and applies devices, i.e. wheelchair seatbelt, adaptive equipment, etc., in accordance with specific instructions, to position patients to limit movements.
• Provides patient nourishment by performing such duties as passing and collecting trays, providing snacks/beverages, assists with ordering meals/snacks, feeds patients.
• Double check breast milk with RN.

Tube Feedings

• Perform tube feedings of patients, at the direction of the RN, and after the RN has established placement just prior to each tube feeding (e.g. Change tube feeding bag, prime line and set rate after notifying RN, refill tube feeding bag as indicated per infection control guidelines and after verifying correct tube feeding to be administered). 

Urinary Catheters

• Performs intermittent sterile urinary catheterizations.
• Performs clean urinary catheterizations (Pediatrics only waiting for data).
• Connects, drains, and disconnects urinary catheters.
• Assembles intermittent bladder irrigation supplies.
• Discontinues urinary catheters.
• Applies condom catheter.
• Determines bladder status with Bladder Scanner.

Enemas/Suppositories

• Administers cleansing enemas that do not contain medication.
• Applies external Fecal Incontinence Device bags.

Wound Care

• Cleanses and redresses non-sterile wounds.
• Performs simple sterile dressing changes, as in central line dressings.
• Assists RN with complex dressing changes.
• Cares for permanent drainage sites and apply appropriate collection device, i.e., ostomy, G-tube, etc.
• Applies binders, ACE wraps, hot and cold applications; provides soaks and special baths.

Respiratory Care

• Assist with tracheostomy care on stable tracheotomies including such duties as cleaning and redressing area; assists with tape and tie changes.
• Performs endotracheal/tracheostomy tube suctioning after assessment by RN of patient stability.
• Provides ventilation to the intubated/trached patient with an Ambu bag.
• Assists with Endotracheal tube care and tape changes.
• Assists with P&PD by holding the patient.
• Measures and records chest tube drainage; sets up Pleurevac; checks Pleurevac water levels and notifies RN prn.
• Coaches/prompts patient to use incentive spirometer, and in coughing and deep breathing.
• Performs routine nasal and/or oral suctioning.

Other Interventions

• Measures and obtains TED hose; applies Sequential Compression Devices.
• Performs post-mortem care and transports deceased patients to the morgue/pathology.
• Responds to call lights and alarms; answer unit telephone and relay messages prn.
• Empties and measures drainage collection and emesis.
• Assists RN with admissions, discharges, and transfers.
• Provide skin care at the direction of the RN, applying select topical emollients containing medication (ie, cortisones, tar, silvidine, butt cream, and dermatology lotions).
• Initiates emergency care utilizing the ABCs - Airway, Breathing, Circulation.
• Transports materials, supplies, medications, specimens, patient belongings, equipment and medical records.
• Performs patient care comfort-safety rounds per unit routine.
• Assists with application and maintains restraints.
• Documents care provided.
• Performs 12-lead ECG.

Environment

• Stocks supplies and equipment in patient care spaces.
• Sets up patient rooms for admission or procedure.
• Makes up beds with linen, changes bed linens and linen hamper during patient stay.
• Maintains orderliness of the patient room and unit, including equipment/cords, linen, trash, patient belongings, etc.
• Cleans and maintains inventory and outdates of equipment and supplies in patient care spaces.
• Clean assigned equipment and areas of work.
• Obtains, opens, and arranges sterile instruments and supplies for specific procedures.
• Clean, packs, sterilizes and stores instruments.
• Checks emergency equipment.
• Performs clerical duties prn.

• High school diploma, GED or equivalent and ability to read and write
• Progressive knowledge in methods, procedures, materials, and equipment of designated area is necessary.
• Must be able to perform a wide range of physical activities which include moving, transporting and positioning patients and equipment as well as constantly positioning self to provide patient care and related duties.

• Basic computer skills
• Course work in an Allied Health field. 
• Previous patient care experience. 
• Demonstrated interpersonal and problem-solving skills. 
• Time management skills. 
• Commitment to providing excellent attendance record and flexibility with scheduling. 
• 1-year recent experience in an unlicensed assistive role in a patient care setting, such as nurse aide in a hospital setting 

This is a 36-hour day/night position with some weekends and holidays.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Service Employees International Union - Healthcare Michigan (SEIU), which represents bargaining unit members in all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. 

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

About University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

A great university is made so by its faculty and staff, and Michigan is recognized as one of the best universities to work for in the country. The Michigan culture is known for engaging faculty and staff in all facets of the university to create a workplace that is vibrant and stimulating.For two consecutive years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has placed U-M in its "Great Colleges to Work For" survey. In particular, the university earns high marks for strong relations between faculty and administrators, a collaborative system of governance, strong pay and benefits, and a healthy work/life balance.

Connections working at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Job Tags

Holiday work, Permanent employment, Relief, Night shift, Weekend work,

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