State of Maryland

A Geriatric Nursing Assistant I is the entry level of work providing assistance in the care, treatment, habilitation or rehabilitation of aged, physically ill patients in State facilities. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from nursing staff or other designated healthcare administrator. Employees may be assigned to day, evening, night, or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends. Employees are subject to call-in and overtime based on staffing needs. Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease. The work may require lifting patients, wheelchairs and heavy equipment.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Geriatric Nursing Assistant I and the Geriatric Nursing Assistant II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The Geriatric Nursing Assistant I performs duties under close supervision. The Geriatric Nursing Assistant II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns to observe, report, and record information in individual treatment plans related to patients' progress;

Learns to provide activities of daily living, including nourishment, personal hygiene, and grooming;

Learns to lift and position patients;

Learns to carry out procedures for protection of oneself and for the safety of patients who may pose a danger to themselves and others;

Learns to interact with and encourage patients to participate in prescribed activities;

Learns to participate in team meetings where individual care plans are set or modified;

Learns to participate in in-service and other training courses;

Learns to report and correct safety hazards in buildings or ward areas;

Learns to attend to infections and disposes of infectious waste;

Learns to escort patients to daily activities;

Learns to collect patient specimens, charts, x-rays, and other data and delivers them to appropriate locations;

Learns to take and record vital signs;

Learns to assist licensed staff in carrying out prescribed treatment programs;

Learns to perform other related duties.

Knowledge of medical terminology, principles, procedures and notation;

Knowledge of techniques used in teaching self-help skills;

Knowledge of the provisions and applications of patient Bill of Rights;

Ability to follow instructions and carry out safety procedures;

Ability to monitor and prepare reports of patient progress;

Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with patients and their family members, supervisors, and staff;

Ability to communicate effectively with patients, supervisors, co-workers and the general public.

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: None.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute experience in the direct care of patients for the required education on a year-for-year basis for up to four years of the required education.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess and maintain a current certificate as a Nursing Assistant with a Geriatric Nursing Assistant certification designation from the Maryland State Board of Nursing.

2. Employees in this classification may be required to successfully complete and maintain current certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

1. Employees in this classification must successfully complete an in-service training program approved by the hiring facility within the first three months prior to permanent appointment to a position in this classification.

2. Employees in this classification must maintain a current listing in the Geriatric Nursing Assistant registry of the Maryland State Board of Nursing. Employment will be terminated for employees who do not maintain current listing in the registry.

3. Employees in this classification may be subject to call 24 hours a day and, therefore, may be required to provide the facility with a telephone number at which they can be reached.

4. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit D-Health and Human Service Nonprofessionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.