Nursing Department Assistant (NDA) III U GF – Geriatric Psych

Join Cleveland Clinic’s Lutheran Hospital where research and surgery are advanced, technology is leading-edge, patient care is world-class, and caregivers are family. Lutheran Hospital’s Magnet status, the highest international recognition for excellence in nursing, recognition as a Center of Excellence in Orthopedics, and high patient satisfaction scores exemplify the top-quality care that patients receive, and caregivers provide here. Located near downtown Cleveland, you will enjoy its wide variety of shopping and dining, proximity to sporting events, and the option of walking or biking to work.   

Lutheran Hospital’s Geriatric Psych Unit specializes in the unique care mental health needs of patients ages 55 and older. This unit is dedicated to helping patients achieve healthier and more productive lives through evaluation, treatment, and stabilization of any disturbances of thought, feelings, mood, behavior, and any co-morbidities. As a Nursing Department Assistant III on this unit, you will provide for patients’ daily living activities, maintain a safe and clean environment, manage supplies and equipment, transport patients and complete errands. Under the direction of an RN, you will also assist with direct patient care tasks, including performing EKGs, blood glucose monitoring, specimen collection, dressing changes, colostomy care and documenting vital signs. This position is an excellent entry point into an exciting nursing career, offering opportunities to grow within the innovative culture at Cleveland Clinic.

A caregiver in this role works days from 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

A caregiver who excels in this role will:

• Assist with wide variety of patient care tasks and collaborate with members of health care teams to promote the delivery of patient care.

• Organize patient care assignments to ensure timely delivery and completion of care on assigned patients.

• Seek assistance as necessary for difficult assignments or problem solving.

• Document the care provided in patient record.

• Label specimens properly.

• Ask patient about pain and report to the RN/LPN as needed.

• Utilize pain scale.

• Maintain orderliness and cleanliness of unit including patient/unit equipment.

• Keep patient areas neat and uncluttered and prepares rooms for patient admissions.

• Clean and maintain patient/unit equipment (i.e. over-bed tables, bed pans, bedside commodes).

• Report any problems (i.e. equipment, supplies and maintenance problems) immediately to the RN.

• Make hourly patient rounds (based on patient condition) to assure that safety measures are in place (i.e. side rails up as needed; beds in low, locked position; phone and call lights are within the patients' reach; and restraints are applied appropriately.

• Ensure that all bed alarms are activated during hourly rounds.

• Utilize personal protective equipment and universal comfort to assist the patient toward independent living.

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:  

• High School Diploma/GED 

• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross within new hire period 

• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention – National Organization certification

• Basic math skills and ability to read and write

Preferred qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:  

• State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) Certification 

• Previous nursing assistance experience 

• Healthcare experience from nursing home or inpatient care

• Behavioral health and medical background

Physical Requirements:

• Requires full range of body motion including handling and lifting patient, manual and finger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination.

• Requires frequent standing, walking, kneeling, reaching, squatting, bending/stooping and lifting patients.

• Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range.

• Requires working under stressful conditions and irregular hours.

• Exposure to communicable diseases and/or body fluids.

• Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

• Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required.