Mobility Assistant

SUMMARY

The mobility assistant functions under the supervision of the Staff Registered Nurse (RN) in collaboration with Brown University Health Rehabilitation Services (LRS), and within Hospital and department policies and procedures, assists in caring for patients and/or families from admission to discharge. All essential functions performed in this position reflect the age-specific needs of the patients. Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role‑model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another.

In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done: instill trust and value differences; patient and community focus and collaboration.

• Under direction of the RN and/or LRS therapists: provide mobility interventions including safe bed mobility, transfers to and from bed and chair/commode, ambulation with or without assistive device.
• Assist with activities of daily living (ADLs) focused on mobility independence, including ambulation, positioning, dressing, and toileting.
• Ensure accurate fitting of assistive device for mobility.
• Progress individual patient mobility to achieve Johns Hopkins‑Highest Level of Mobility (JH‑HLM) Goal of the day.
• Communicate all pertinent observations to the responsible RN and immediately report patient complaints and observations, including abnormal vital signs, fever, chills, shortness of breath, chest pain, bleeding, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Maintain a safe patient environment and comply with infection control practices in accordance with established Hospital and department policies and procedures.
• Perform basic patient care skills, such as vital sign reading and recording under the direction of the RN.
• Perform all essential functions with consideration of the age‑specific needs of the geriatric, adult, and adolescent patient.
• Maintain education and competencies within the Departments of Nursing and LRS directed by supervisor.
• Assist with all aspects of the nursing process including, but not limited to, collecting baseline and ongoing assessment data, following the management plan, and monitoring the patient response to mobility interventions.
• Provide and/or reinforce patient instruction regarding safe mobility, gait sequencing, and weight‑bearing status as appropriate.
• Maintain quality assurance, safety, environmental, and infection control, in accordance with established hospital department policies, procedures, and objectives.
• Ability to perform responsibilities in emergency/code situations, including CPR.

BASIC KNOWLEDGE

• High school graduate or General Equivalent Diploma.
• Current certification in Basic Life Support with Healthcare Provider.
• Certified Nursing Assistants preferred; healthcare‑focused student or equivalent experience and/or education in patient mobility considered.
• Read, write, and speak English; ability to perform basic computer skills.
• Ability to identify and report unsafe situations to the Staff Nurse.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

EXPERIENCE

• Experience and/or education in patient mobility recommended.
• Interpersonal skills to effectively interact with patients, visitors, physicians and hospital staff at all levels.
• Reading and mathematical abilities in order to complete documentation, operate monitoring equipment, and maintain an environment conducive to patient comfort and safety.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Healthcare environment such as acute care hospitals, physicians' offices and ancillary healthcare enterprises.
• Works with medical equipment and has direct patient contact; potential hazards are minimized or nullified by adherence to established safety procedures and precautions, including use of safety equipment and protective clothing.
• Prolonged sitting, standing, and walking;…