Position overview
Working under the direction of Registered Nurses, the Assistant in Nursing (AIN) provides designated core duties assisting patients with activities of daily living and observing people with behavioural risks in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to achieve exceptional health care.
Multiple positions are available throughout Canberra Health Services including but not limited to:
- General Medical/Surgical
- Women’s, Youth and Children
- Perioperative Services
- Critical Care Areas (ICU, CCU, ED)
- Mental Health
- Cancer Services
- Acute Care of the Elderly
- Medical Imaging
- Critical Services Building (CSB)
- Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Services
Key responsibilities
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.
- Provide safe, effective assistance to healthcare consumers and/or birthing mothers (depending on area of work), supporting their specific needs in performing activities of daily living and observing people with behavioural risks to themselves or others, according the CHS AIN Core Duty Activity List. You will also demonstrate understanding of what activities are excluded from the AIN role.
- Work under the direction, guidance, supervision, and support of Registered Nurses as a member of the health care team.
- Communicate with all members of the health care team, providing specific and timely updates to Registered Nurses on health consumer activities. Methods of communication include verbal updates about care provided any observed changes to the person, the environment or others. Written documentation about care provided occurs within the digital clinical health record.
- Contribute to and promote recovery through physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual care of health consumers.
- Contribute to an environment that is respectful of personal choice, dignity, integrity and confidentiality for health consumers.
- Undertake extension of core activities if directed, outlined in the CHS AIN Core Duty Activities List where relevant education and competency assessment has been attained and evidence is provided to the supervising Registered Nurse in work area.
- Comply with educational requirements and trainings for safe patient care.
- Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.
Competencies
Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- High level communication skills and ability to maintain good interpersonal relationships
- Friendly, warm, caring, and empathetic.
- Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs
Qualifications
Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.
Mandatory
- A certificate III in Health Service Assistance, Acute Health Service.
- Completed first year of Diploma of Nursing or Bachelor of Nursing or Midwifery.
Desirable
- Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
Experience
Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.
Mandatory
- Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks.
Desirable
- Prior experience in a tertiary health care setting will be highly desirable
Please note prior to commencement successful candidates will be required to:
- Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
- Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
- Be registered under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011.
Important information
All employees are required to:
- adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct
- act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
- Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.
- Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work.
CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.
What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)
These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.
- Proven ability to work under direct supervision and within a team to provide effective person-centred care and support for patients.
- Demonstrates knowledge of safe and effective ways to assist patients perform activities of daily living and understanding of privacy and confidentiality requirements in health care services.
- Proven strong verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrates a commitment to professional and personal development
- Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.
Work environment description
The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.
| Administrative | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Telephone use | Frequently |
| General computer use | Frequently |
| Extensive keying/data entry | Occasionally |
| Graphical/analytical based | Occasionally |
| Sitting at a desk | Frequently |
| Standing for long periods | Occasionally |
| Psychosocial demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations | Frequently |
| Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness | Frequently |
| Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries | Frequently |
| Restraining e.g. involvement in physical containment of clients/consumers | Occasionally |
| Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide | Occasionally |
| Physical demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit) | Frequently |
| Working outdoors | Occasionally |
| Manual handling | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Lifting 0 - 9kg | Frequently |
| Lifting 10 - 15kg | Occasionally |
| Lifting 16kg+ | Never |
| Climbing | Never |
| Running | Occasionally |
| Reaching | Occasionally |
| Kneeling | Occasionally |
| Foot and leg movement | Occasionally |
| Hand, arm and grasping movements | Frequently |
| Bending/squatting | Occasionally |
| Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting | Occasionally |
| Push/pull | Occasionally |
| Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time | Occasionally |
| Travel | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Frequent travel – multiple work sites | Occasionally |
| Frequent travel – driving | Occasionally |
| Specific hazards | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Working at heights | Never |
| Exposure to extreme temperatures | Never |
| Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift | Never |
| Confined spaces | Occasionally |
| Excessive noise | Occasionally |
| Low lighting | Occasionally |
| Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological. | Occasionally |
| Slippery or uneven surfaces | Occasionally |
Directorate: Canberra Health Services
Division: Nursing and Midwifery and Patient Support Services
Business Unit: Nursing and Midwifery Resource Office
Position number: P60487
Position title: Assistant in Nursing
Classification: Assistant in Nursing
Location: Canberra Hospital, North Canberra Hospital and University of Canberra Hospital
Reporting relationships: Assistant Director of Nursing
Manager +1: Nurse Manager
Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person-centred care. We provide acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding regions. More information can be found on the CHS website.
Our Vision: creating exceptional health care together
Our Role: to be a health service that is trusted by our community
Our Values: Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind