Safety Specialist Jobs in Kankakee, IL

Overview:

The purpose of the CNA – Mid-Shift Patient Experience & Safety Specialist role is to improve patient satisfaction—particularly responsiveness to patient needs—and decrease patient falls through proactive, purposeful rounding and consistent bedside presence during peak activity hours. This role supports a safe, calm, and responsive care environment by anticipating patient needs and promptly addressing comfort and safety concerns.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Purposeful Rounding & Proactive Care:

Perform purposeful rounding at established intervals with focus on:
- Pain
- Positioning
- Personal needs (toileting)
- Possessions within reach (call light, phone, water)

Anticipate patient needs to reduce call light usage and improve responsiveness.
Provide timely comfort measures such as repositioning assistance, hydration, and environmental adjustments.
Observe patients closely and promptly report changes in condition or behavior to the RN.

Fall Prevention & Safety:

Monitor patients identified as fall risk and ensure safety interventions are in place.
- Maintain a safe, clutter-free patient environment.
- Ensure call lights, personal items, and safety equipment are within reach.
- Reinforce use of call light and safety precautions with patients and families.
- Escalate safety concerns immediately to nursing staff.

Patient Experience & Daily Care:

Assist with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as toileting, hygiene, grooming, feeding, and comfort care as appropriate.
- Provide respectful, patient-centered care that supports dignity and privacy.
- Respond promptly to patient requests and communicate delays or concerns appropriately.
- Accurately document care and observations per organizational standards.

Team Collaboration:

Partner with RNs and the interdisciplinary team to support patient care goals.
- Communicate patient needs, concerns, and observations clearly and in a timely manner.
- Participate in unit huddles, safety rounds, and handoffs as assigned.
- Serve as a visible, approachable caregiver during high-volume mid-shift hours.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

Our Commitment to You:

Riverside Healthcare offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and nationally rated employee well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so your journey at and away from work is remarkable. Our Total Rewards package includes:

Compensation:

- Base compensation within the position’s pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
- Premium pay such as shift differential, on-call
- Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits - .5 to 1.0 FTE:

- Paid Time Off programs
- Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
- Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
- Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
- Educational Assistance Program

Benefits - .001 to .49 FTE:

- Paid Leave Hours accrued as you work

Required Education/Licensure:

- Current Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Required Experience:

- Ability to perform required physical tasks related to patient care.
- Strong communication, observation, and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Experience:

- Experience in acute care or inpatient settings.
- Familiarity with purposeful rounding, fall prevention, or patient experience initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators:

- Improved patient satisfaction scores related to responsiveness.
- Decreased patient falls during mid-shift hours.
- Consistent compliance with purposeful rounding expectations.
- Positive feedback from patients, families, and care team members.

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure/Sensory Requirements:
Exposure to:
- Chemicals: Refer to MSDS sheets
- Video Display Terminals: Average
- Blood and Body Fluids: Depends on patients’ diagnosis, exposure to urine, blood, stool, vomitus, AIDS, Herpes.
- TB or Airborne Pathogens: High risk-sputum, secretions, coughing. Likelihood of exposure can be reduced with universal precautions.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):
- Speech: Required to communicate with patient/families/staff/doctors, coworkers, ancillary personnel and other department heads. Ability to ask for help.
- Vision: Required to observe patients; reading equipment and dials.
- Smell: Helpful to note presence of incontinence, vomitus, blood; electrical/fire safety.
- Hearing: Necessary to hear alarms, yells for help and to hear patient verbalizations.
- Touch: Contact with patients, need to distinguish between hot and cold.

Activity/Lifting Requirements:

Shift: Mid Shift (Midday)

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:
- Sit: 10%
- Twist: 5%
- Stand: 45%
- Crawl: 0%
- Walk: 25%
- Kneel: 0%
- Lift: 6%
- Drive: 0%
- Squat: 2%
- Climb: 1%
- Bend: 5%
- Reach above shoulders: 1%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:
- Up to 10 lbs: Frequently
- Up to 20 lbs: Frequently
- Up to 35 lbs: Frequently
- Up to 60 lbs: Occasionally
- Up to 75 lbs: Not Required
- Up to 100 lbs: Not Required
- Over 100lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements:
Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment.
Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts/beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment.
Lifting equipment - carry 25'- 150' waist high (IV bags, patient trays).
Carry charts 25'- 150' waist high. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh over 35 lbs.
Carry fire extinguishers down 1/2 flight of stairs or up 3-4 flights of stairs and several yards in an emergency.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:
- Sit: 30
- Twist: 15
- Stand: 60
- Crawl: 0
- Walk: 15
- Kneel: 0
- Lift: 5
- Drive: 0
- Squat: 5
- Climb: 1
- Bend: 15
- Reach above shoulders: 5

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):
- Simple grasp 15 lbs.
- Pushing & pulling - 50-200 lbs: Occasionally
- Fine Manipulation: taking temperature with probe. Opening juice and milk containers. Opening silverware, soap packages. Handling CS tags. Using writing instruments.

Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control:
Bed lock and cardiac chair - at least 50lbs of pressure. Hydraulic tub lift - at least 50lbs of pressure.

Environmental Factors and Special Hazards:

Environmental Factors (Time Spent):
- Inside hours: up to 12
- Outside hours: 0
- Temperature: Normal Range
- Lighting: Average
- Noise levels: Average
- Humidity: Normal Range
- Atmosphere: Odors

Special Hazards:
- Chemical - drugs/work with patients receiving chemotherapy
- Explosive - oxygen
- Radiation - cesium implants and radioactive iodine therapy direct radiation for radiology equipment
- Mechanical - use of Hoover lift bed scales, motorized wheelchairs, bathtub lift chair.

Protective Clothing Required: Gowns, gloves, goggles, masks, HEPA masks for TB.

Pay Range: USD $18.83 - USD $23.00 /Hr