Patient Porter/Health Care Assistant

In accordance with the Mission and Values of Fraser Health, the Health Care Assistant works under the direction of a professional nurse (Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Nurse Practitioner (NP)), in cooperation with the inter-professional care team, and following established care plans and person-centered care. Transports patients, specimens, patient records, and equipment throughout the hospital site, including acute and extended care units. Provides personal care to patients such as assisting with toileting, bathing, skin and hair care, oral hygiene, grooming, dressing, changing beds, patient positioning and mobilization. Observes and reports patient progress, assists patients with meals, and performs related general duties.
Responsibilities

• Responds to telephone and paging systems for requests for transportation of patients, related equipment, and supplies.
• Provides personal care to patients such as assisting patients with toileting, bathing, skin and hair care, oral hygiene, grooming, dressing, changing beds, patient positioning and mobilization.
• Observes and reports patient progress including anticipated/unanticipated patient responses to care, patient discomfort and/or pain, skin breakdowns, and unusual incidents and/or accidents to the designated RN/RPN/LPN/NP.
• Attends internal/external committees, patient care meetings and training sessions as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Assists in the admission, discharge and transfer of patients including the transfer/care of clothing and personal belongings.
• Transports patients using mechanical aids such as wheelchairs, lifts and stretchers.
• Performs a variety of related general duties such as answering the phone, maintaining storage areas, ordering supplies through stores, transporting specimens, maintaining and locating inventory of equipment, cleaning and caring for equipment such as commodes/bed pans, and maintaining tidy patient rooms and patient care areas.
• Assists patients with meals by completing menu slips, checking meals to ensure the maintenance of dietary restrictions, serving and collecting meal trays and feeding designated patients.
• Transports specimens, blood gases, blood, etc, to and from Laboratory, as requested. Transports bodies from nursing units to the Morgue. Transfers and returns beds and equipment to nursing units as required.
• As directed by the RN/RPN/LPN/NP, takes temperature, pulse, respiration, and weight and obtains non-sterile specimens such as urine and stool.
• Transports patients, accompanying documentation, and/or supplies as requested, throughout the hospital. Assists in lifting and transferring patients to and from beds, stretchers and wheelchairs. Ensures patients' needs are attended to while being transported. Observes, responds, and deals effectively with patients in distress. Obtains emergency assistance as required.
• Sets up charts for new patients and attaches documents to charts as directed by the RN/RPN/LPN/NP and according to established protocols.

Qualifications
Education and Experience
Grade 10 plus graduation from a recognized Health Care Assistant program or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Skills And Abilities

• Ability to deal with others effectively.
• Ability to organize work.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.