Under the direction of the charge nurse or patient nurse, the Critical Care Unit Assistant assumes responsibility to carry out and coordinate communication at the nurses' station, monitor telemetry and EKG recording and to communicate to the patient's nurse or charge nurse when there is a significant change or sustained pattern of change that is outside of the baseline for any telemetry monitored patient. Critical Care Unit Assistants assumes responsibility to carry out the clerical activities, coordinate communication and assist with patient care in the Intensive Care Unit. They perform clerical duties to support physicians and nursing staff in the delivery of care and services to the patients in a fast paced environment. Critical Care Unit Assistants maintain medical records for each patient that are complete, readily accessible, and systematically organized. They perform delegated duties of direct care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. They interact with staff, patients and visitors, and others in a manner that facilitates communication and presents an appropriate image of the facility. These functions are essential components in achieving the goals of the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center.

1. Assist with ADL's and patient care as directed by the RN (when NA/R certified).
2. Answer and appropriately respond to patient call lights.
3. Assist with the physical transfer process for patients, to/from the ED, floor units, or other departments.
4. Assist with meeting the needs of the families.
5. Understand and correctly operate and care for equipment when directed to do so.
6. Stock supplies, perform routine cleaning of equipment as required.
7. Establish appropriate priorities for receiving, recording, relaying and acting on information.
8. Admit patients to telemetry. Place all information into the telemetry monitor and set alarm limits according to default settings or physician order.
9. Obtain initial and periodic cardiac rhythm printouts, document initial reading, and present to the registered nurse for analysis and acknowledgement and file in the patient medical record.
10. Communicate any significant changes in patient heart rate, rhythm and oxygen saturation level to the patient nurse or charge nurse as soon as change occurs.
11. Discharge patients from telemetry and promptly clean telemetry box.
12. Facilitate professional and courteous communication between external and internal customers, including staff, providers, visitors, and patients.
13. Establish appropriate priorities for receiving, recording, relaying and acting upon information.
14. Practice and maintain high ethical standards including patient and facility confidentiality.
15. Respond to change productively and handle additional tasks as assigned.
16. Uphold and support established Medical Center mission, goals and policies.
17. Maintain inventory and ordering of supplies and forms as directed by supervisor.