mobility assistant

Summary

The Mobility Assistant functions under the supervision of the Staff Registered Nurse (RN), in collaboration with Brown University Health Rehabilitation Services (LRS), and within Hospital and department policies and procedures, assists in caring for patients and/or families from admission to discharge. All essential functions performed in this position reflect the age-specific needs of the patients.

Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers, and one another.

In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors, which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include:

• Instill Trust and Value Differences
• Patient and Community Focus
• Collaborate

Responsibilities

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

To be successful at Brown University Health, all employees commit to sharing our mission of "Delivering health with care" and successfully practicing our values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, which guide our everyday actions with patients, customers, and one another.

Employees are also responsible for knowing and acting in accordance with the principles of the Brown University Health Corporate Compliance Program and Code of Conduct.

Under the direction of the RN and/or LRS therapists:

• Provides mobility interventions including safe bed mobility, transfers to and from bed and chair/commode, and ambulation with or without an assistive device.
• Assists with activities of daily living (ADLs) with a focus on mobility independence, including:
  • Ambulation
  • Positioning
  • Dressing
  • Toileting
• Ensures accurate fitting of assistive devices for mobility.
• Progresses individual patient mobility to achieve the Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility (JH-HLM) Goal of the Day.
• Communicates all pertinent observations to the responsible RN.
• Immediately reports patient complaints and observations, including, but not limited to:
  • Abnormal vital signs
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Bleeding
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
• Maintains a safe patient environment.
• Complies with infection control practices in accordance with established Hospital and department policies and procedures.
• Performs basic patient care skills, such as vital sign reading and recording, under the direction of the RN.
• Performs all essential functions with consideration of the age-specific needs of geriatric, adult, and adolescent patients.
• Maintains education and competencies within the Departments of Nursing and LRS as directed by the supervisor.
• Assists with all aspects of the nursing process including, but not limited to:
  • Assisting with collection of baseline and ongoing assessment data
  • Following the management plan
  • Monitoring the patient response to mobility interventions
• Provides and/or reinforces patient instruction regarding:
  • Safe mobility
  • Gait sequencing
  • Weight-bearing status, as appropriate
• Maintains quality assurance, safety, environmental, and infection control standards in accordance with established hospital department policies, procedures, and objectives.
• Demonstrates the ability to perform responsibilities in emergency/code situations, including CPR.

Minimum Qualifications

Basic Knowledge

• High school graduate or General Equivalent Diploma (GED).
• Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) with Healthcare Provider designation.
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) preferred; healthcare-focused student or equivalent experience and/or education in patient mobility considered.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English.
• Ability to perform basic computer skills.
• Ability to identify and report unsafe situations to the Staff Nurse.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of:
  • Aging processes
  • Human development stages
  • Cultural patterns
  • Each step of the care process

Experience

• Experience and/or education in patient mobility recommended.
• Interpersonal skills to effectively interact with:
  • Patients
  • Visitors
  • Physicians
  • Hospital staff at all levels
• Reading and mathematical abilities necessary to:
  • Complete documentation
  • Operate monitoring equipment
  • Maintain an environment conducive to patient comfort and safety

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• Healthcare environment such as:
  • Acute care hospitals
  • Physicians' offices
  • Ancillary healthcare enterprises
• Works with medical equipment and has direct patient contact.
• Any potential hazards are minimized or nullified by adherence to established safety procedures and precautions, including the use of safety equipment and protective clothing.
• Prolonged sitting, standing, and walking.
• May be required to lift/turn patients and equipment.
• Repeated bending, squatting, and stooping.

Independent Action

• Works under the supervision of the RN in collaboration with LRS therapists within the scope of Hospital and department policies and procedures.
• Refers specific complex problems to the supervisor where clarification of departmental policies and procedures may be required.
• Supervisory staff is physically present most of the time.

Supervisory Responsibility

• None.