About the role
Under the supervision of a registered nurse, assisting the Ward / Department team in providing the highest possible standard of care for patients and their families/carers.
Responsibilities
* Participates in all aspects of patient care with particular attention to personal hygiene and grooming.
* Provision of patients' toileting needs, ensuring privacy and dignity is maintained.
* Support of patients in managing incontinence and promotion of continence.
* The recording of a patient's fluid intake and output using fluid balance charts.
* Preparation and serving of patient's meals, drinks and snacks. Assisting / feeding patients as necessary.
* The recording of patient's dietary intake when indicated in the patient's plan of care.
* Enable patients to maintain/improve their mobility by use of exercise and mobility appliances.
* Assist in the prevention of pressure sore development as directed by the Registered Nurse in conjunction with the patient's plan of care.
* Carry out any movement and handling within the safe practice guidelines from your mandatory training and in relation to the patient's manual handling risk assessment and plan.
* Obtaining specimens from patients for ward or laboratory testing.
* Removal of cannulae, catheters and nasogastric tubes as per competency.
* Undertake the dressing of non-complex wounds in accordance with identified competencies and in conjunction with the plan of care.
* Prepare and maintain environments for clinical treatments and investigations.
* Prepare patients for treatments, investigations or procedures including offering support, answering questions appropriate to own knowledge/experience and assisting in recovery.
* Collect blood products from the laboratory as requested.
* Assist Registered Nurse in performing last offices.
* Initiate Basic Life Support techniques as appropriate and provide assistance to the registered nurse as required in prolonged resuscitation situations.
* Ensure due regard is given to customs, values and spiritual beliefs of patients and carers.
* Promote effective communication within the multi-disciplinary team and take measures to overcome communication difficulties.
* Contribute to the management of aggressive and abusive behaviour.
* General bed making / making up of clean beds in readiness for new admissions, and operation beds.
* Clear and clean vacated bed spaces and prepare ready for use according to the ward/unit protocol.
* Prepare used linen bags for collection by Porters and ensure an adequate supply of linen bags/skips ready for use.
* Assist in maintaining a clean and safe environment in all areas.
* Safe disposal of clinical waste and sharps as per Trust policy.
* Attend to the needs of visitors and patients particularly those who may be distressed or bereaved.
* Care for patients' property, including valuables, in accordance with Trust policy.
* Obtain demographic details and social history from patients/visitors to assist in the admission process.
* Attend induction course and complete orientation programme to achieve core competencies.
* Support and instruction of new and less experienced staff.
* Acknowledge limitations of knowledge and clinical skills; seek appropriate advice and support.
* Reception / telephone duties.
* Basic computer skills.
About the unit
Horsley Intensive Care is looking for an experienced, highly motivated and dedicated Health Care Assistant to join our Centre of Excellence. The Intensive Care Unit / High Dependency Unit provides high quality care for patients with neurological/neurosurgical conditions in a critical care environment. Work under the direction and supervision of the nurse in charge to support the ITU team in the provision of delegated nursing care to patients, and to maintain an efficient environment suitable for the care of critically ill adults.
You should possess excellent communication skills, be willing to work flexibly as part of a team and be committed to high standards of working. Working hours for this role will be a mix of day and night shifts; we are open to flexible working requests.
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