Caregiver / CNA / HCA Hospice Aide

Continuum Care Hospice

Continuum Care is one of the top and fastest growing hospices in the Pacific Northwest and has received the honor of winning the Best in the PNW for the Seattle Times People's Choice Award for 2023 & 2024. Being a part of the Continuum Team means you are joining a company with rapid growth within the current counties of services as well as new counties opening up each year, all of which brings great potential for professional growth in all areas and disciplines. Even with this rapid growth, Continuum has been able to maintain the "small-town feel" where co-workers are often considered friends and a wonderful work family and reaching the CEO or VP is as easy as reaching anyone else in the company. With competitive wages, benefits packages, and the potential for your own personal and professional growth, careers with Continuum are hard to pass up.

Job Description Summary

The hospice aide works under the supervision of a registered nurse and performs various tasks as assigned in accordance with the patient's plan of care to meet the patient's personal needs and to promote comfort. The hospice aide is responsible for reporting and documenting observations and care performed. The hospice aide will be assigned in a manner that promotes quality, continuity and safety of a patient's care.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the hospice aide include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Performing personal care needs after given a patient's assignment and attending to his/her requests promptly. If unable to perform a certain task, report to the Case Manager immediately.
2. Providing patient and family with positive communication techniques, within realm of ethical and respectful care, including confidentiality.
3. Meeting safety needs of patient and using equipment safely and properly (foot stools, side rails, O2 etc.)
4. Giving personal care including baths, back rubs, oral hygiene, shampoos and changing bed linen as often as assigned.
5. Assisting in dressing and undressing patients as assigned.
6. Assisting in feeding the patient as assigned. Hospice Aides may not provide patients with homemade food items or baked goods that they themselves prepared
7. Providing proper care and observation of patient's skin to prevent breakdown of tissue over bony prominence.
8. Reporting any complaint of pain or other symptoms or changes in the patient's condition to the RN Case Manager. Also aware of the caregiver or other individuals living with the patient and interpersonal issues.
9. Assisting in ambulation and exercise as instructed by the hospice nurse or therapist.
10. Provide normal range of motion and transfers/positioning as directed.
11. Assistance with self-administered medications as allowed by state regulations, such as "reminders."
12. Offering and assisting with bedpans and urinals. Providing assistance as assigned with light laundry needs, emptying waste baskets and other light homemaker tasks.
13. Performing range of motion and other simple procedures as ordered with appropriate completed/demonstrated skills competency.
14. Providing respite for patient's/family/caregiver when on-site, as appropriate.
15. Keeping patient's living area clean and orderly, as assigned.
16. Adhering to the organization's documentation and care procedures and standards of personal and professional conduct.
17. Participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
18. Respectful of patient and family/caregiver environment and patient's personal needs.
19. As a mandatory reporter, reports failure to comply with the requirements to the VA Dept. of Health as required within 14 calendar days, using Dept. of Health forms.
20. Reports suspected abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a person in violation of VA State laws and ethics to the department of social and health services and the proper law enforcement agency. Reports must be submitted immediately when the reporting person has reasonable cause to believe that abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult has occurred.

Job Limitations

The hospice aide will not function in any manner viewed as the practice of nursing according to the Nurse Practice Act. Specifically, the hospice aide will not administer medications, take physician's orders or perform procedures requiring the training, knowledge and skill of a licensed nurse, such as sterile techniques.

Position Qualifications

1. Completion of a state approved certified nursing assistant course or equivalent training with current license.

2. High school diploma or General Equivalency Degree (GED)

3. Ability to read and follow written instructions and document care given.

4. Understands hospice philosophy, comfortable providing specialized care to the terminally ill.

5. Prior experience in hospice, orderly, acute, rehabilitative, or long term care facility. 1 year previous home health/hospice experience preferred

6. Basic computer skills to document in electronic medical records (EMR)

7. At least 18 years of age

8. Licensed driver with automobile that is insured in accordance with organization requirements and is in good working order.