Nursing Support Associate- Founders 12- General Medicine- HUP- Full Time

Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines.

Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day. Are you living your life's work?

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is seeking a full-time, Nursing Support Associate for our General Medicine unit, Founders 12!

The support associate, under the direction and supervision of the Nurse Manager, and in cooperation with all members of the patient care teams, assists in maintaining the condition of the unit's physical environment; sets up equipment and supplies for selected patient care activities; moves and transports patients; performs a wide range of customer relations, complies with applicable regulatory functions; and conducts supply functions to fully support patient care activities on the assigned unit.

a. The essential functions of the position include but are not limited to:

1. Supports patient care in the following ways:

• • Removes linen from patient care areas
  • Changes linen on unoccupied patient beds
  • Distributes water pitchers, cups, and straws
  • Assists in the management of patient belongings by conducting an inventory, securing and transporting patient belongings
  • Performs constant observation to help meet unit needs
  • Distributes mail • Restocks patient education materials
  • Performs errands to meet the needs of patients and patient care unit

b. Provision of transportation-related duties:

• 1. Obtains equipment required for the physical transport of unit patients.
• 2. Transports patients to destinations throughout HUP system in a safe, courteous and timely manner.
• 3. Obtains all necessary medical information (e.g., medical records), equipment and supplies (e.g., I.V. poles, stretcher, gowns, masks).
• 4. Documents of patient transfer in NaviCare.

c. Assures adequate inventory of patient care supplies:

• 1. Maintains supply and equipment inventories and par levels.
• 2. Inventories, orders, and/or stocks appropriate unit supplies.
• 3. Orders patient care equipment from Materials Management.
• 4. Returns used equipment to appropriate areas from patient room and general care unit.
• 5. Cleans unit-based equipment.
• 6. Identifies malfunctioning equipment and facilitates necessary repairs.
• 7. Authorized to access secured area to obtain intravenous solutions and medication preparation supplies for the purpose of stocking and maintaining pars in the medication carts.
• 8. Retrieves supplies and medications/blood products from tube system. Secures stock items in appropriate location. Delivers patient specific medications/blood products to the assigned nurse.
• 9. Stocks unit-specific carts (e.g., dressing carts).
• 10. Stocks patient rooms with unit-specific equipment.

d. The marginal functions of the position include but are not limited to: Performs unit specific tasks at the discretion of the Nurse Manager, performs other duties as requested or required.

10. MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OPERATED: Transporting equipment including, but not limited to: pneumatic tube system, omni-cell supplies, wheelchairs, litters, IV poles and related equipment, hospital beds, and oxygen tanks.

11. COMMENTS: May be required to accept changes in work location or duties in order to meet the operational needs of the patient care unit, department, or nursing at HUP. The support service associate is expected to promote organizational values of patient and visitor satisfaction by demonstrating courtesy and respect for patients and their families, visitors and other employees; and by working collaboratively with health professionals and staff.

12. EDUCATION AND TRAINING High school education or its equivalent. Attends inservice programs and staff meetings; attends regulatory agencies mandated continuing education programs; expected to perform the job satisfactorily within 3 months.

13. INITIATIVE, JUDGMENT AND CREATIVE ABILITY Plan and organize work; expected to recommend changes in procedures; must respond immediately when called upon for unusual and emergency situations. Judgment required in determining priorities of tasks to be completed. Determines and reports conflicts in priorities to the Nurse Manager for assistance in resolution. Expected to keep current with developments in procedures relevant to the position. Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care based on physical, psychosocial, cultural, educational, safety, and related criteria appropriate to the age of the patients served in his/her assigned areas.

14. MENTAL, VISUAL AND HEARING DEMANDS Speaks, reads, and understands English. Must be able to communicate with patients, families, visitors, nursing staff and other disciplines.

15. SUPERVISION Supervised by the Nurse Manager of the patient care unit. May be asked to assist in orientation/training of others in job category.

16. REPORTS AND RECORDS: Required to prepare and submit supply requests; review inventory reports, maintains log of transport activities.

17. CONTACTS: Patients and their families, visitors, nurses, physicians, and staff in other hospital departments.

18. WORKING CONDITIONS/HEALTH HAZARDS: Injury resulting from assisting patients and/or handling equipment. Possible exposure to infectious conditions and/or needle punctures.

19. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Standing and walking most of the time on duty. Demonstrates effective body mechanics when moving and lifting equipment and patients; manual dexterity in assisting patients and their equipment. Required to travel throughout the hospital.
We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.

Live Your Life's Work

We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.