INSTITUTIONAL ATTENDANT BILINGUAL IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH

Definition

Under direction in a hospital or other institution, performs nonprofessional nursing duties involved in the care and custody of patients and/or inmates; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Organizes assigned work and develops effective work methods.
• Escorts inmates and/or patients to work, school, meals, treatment rooms, wards, church services, or recreational activities.
• Maintains order and discipline within the institution and on the grounds.
• Provides guidance and oversight to groups of inmates and/or patients engaged in sweeping, mopping, and polishing floors, making beds, washing dishes, and in doing other routine duties.
• Participates in patient engagement activities.
• Assumes responsibility for the personal appearance and clothing of patients and/or inmates within an assigned area.
• May help bathe, dress, and prepare patients for bed.
• Takes care of the linen supplies for assigned wards, buildings, or other areas.
• Lifts patients on and off beds and stretchers.
• Makes rounds of dormitories and wards during the night and notifies the supervisory officer of any unusual or suspicious situations observed.
• Reports cases of illness.
• Helps wash and sterilize walls, floors, dishes, tables, and other equipment.
• Assists in leading group and individual patient activities including games, exercises or trips.
• Confers with patients and their families to answer basic questions.
• Refers more difficult questions to nursing or medical staff.
• Observes patients during daily activities, supports interactive behavior, and reports any unusual behavior, appearance, or attitudes to nursing and medical staff.
• Aids patients and/or inmates in feeding and in the serving of meals.
• May participate in staff discussions and evaluation of patients and, based on observation and day-to-day contact with patients, providing information and feedback on therapy to medical staff.
• May be required to take notes on patients' behavior as requested by medical staff and write routine progress notes.
• Prepares reports.
• Maintains essential records and files.
• Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording information systems used by the agency, office or related unit.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of problems likely to be encountered in hospitals and other institutions.
• Knowledge of the purpose, policies, standards, and procedures involved in the care and custody of patients and/or inmates after a period of training.
• Knowledge of basic medical and hospital routines, methods, and procedures.
• Ability to understand, remember, and carry out oral and written instructions and assignments.
• Ability to comprehend the problems of children and adults who are confined to a psychiatric hospital or other institutions.
• Ability to work collegially with associates, superior officers, patients, and/or inmates.
• Ability to provide guidance and oversight to groups of patients and/or inmates.
• Ability to keep wards, buildings, and areas in a clean and neat condition with or without the help of patients and/or inmates.
• Ability to assist with recreational activities.
• Ability to patrol wards, dormitories, and buildings in the evening hours.
• Ability to notify the appropriate supervisory officers when unusual cases, irregularities, accidents, fires, or illnesses occur.
• Ability to assist in bathing, dressing, and feeding patients and/or inmates.
• Ability to observe patients' behavior and record or report these observations.
• Ability to communicate in an effective manner with patients, medical and nursing staff, and patients' families.
• Ability to work with patients who may exhibit difficult behavior.
• Ability to maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Appointments may be made to positions requiring bilingual skills.

<b> - Bilingual in Spanish and English SPECIAL SKILL</b> Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in Spanish and English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.

Appointees may be required to possess a Certified Nursing Assistant License (CNA) or a Licensed Practical Nurse License (LPN) valid in the State of New Jersey.

Appointees may be required to successfully complete an in-service training program in the care of patients with mental health problems.