Nursing Assistant

PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB POSITION

The primary purpose of your job position is to provide your assigned residents with routine daily nursing care in accordance with our established nursing care procedures, and as may be directed by your supervisors.

JOB FUNCTIONS

Every effort has been made to keep your job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that they are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS

• Record all entries on flow sheets, notes, charts, etc., in an informative and descriptive manner.

• Use the wristband or photo card file to identify residents before administering care, serving meals, etc., as necessary.

• Report all accidents/incidents you observe on the shift that they occur.

• Use only authorized abbreviations established by this facility when recording information.

• Report all changes in the resident’s condition to the Charge/Staff Nurse as soon as practical.

ADMISSION, TRANSFER, AND DISCHARGE FUNCTIONS

• Ensure that the resident’s room is ready for receiving the resident (i.e., bed made, name tags up, admission kit available, etc.)

• Greet and escort residents to their rooms.

• Introduce resident to his/her roommate, if any, and other residents and personnel as appropriate.

• Make resident comfortable, (i.e., put to bed, get water, etc.)

• Inventory and mark the resident’s personal possessions.

• Store resident’s clothing.

• Assist residents with packing their personal possessions when they are being transferred to a new room or when being discharged.

• Transport residents to new room or to the receiving area.

• Assist residents with loading/unloading as necessary

PERSONNEL FUNCTIONS

• Follow work assignments, and/or work schedules in completing and performing your assigned tasks.

• Perform all assigned tasks in accordance with our established policies and procedures, and as instructed by your supervisors.

• Notify the facility when you will be late or absent from work.

• Report all complaints and grievances made by the residents.

• Cooperate with inter-department personnel, as well as other facility personnel to assure that nursing services can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the residents.

• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.

• Meet with your shift’s nursing personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services.

PERSONAL NURSING CARE FUNCTIONS

• Participate in and receive the nursing report upon reporting for duty.

• Assist residents with daily dental and mouth care (i.e., brushing teeth/dentures, oral hygiene, special mouth care, etc.)

• Give or assist resident with bath functions (i.e., bed bath, tub or shower bath, etc.)

• Give backrubs as instructed.

• Assist residents with dressing/undressing as necessary.

• Assist residents with hair care functions (i.e., combing, brushing, shampooing, etc.)

• Assist residents with nail care (i.e., clipping, trimming, and cleaning the finger/toenails).

• Shave male residents.

• Keep hair on female residents clean shaven (i.e., facial hair, under arms, on legs, etc., as instructed).

• Keep residents dry (i.e., change gown, clothing, linen, etc., when it becomes wet or soiled).

• Make beds (occupied and unoccupied).

• Position bedfast residents in correct and comfortable position.

• Change bed linens. Keep linens tight to avoid wrinkles forming under the resident.

• Put extra covers on beds as requested.

• Assist resident with bowel and bladder functions (i.e., take to bathroom, offer bedpan/urinal, portable commode, etc.)

• Maintain intake and output records as instructed.

• Keep incontinent residents clean and dry.

• Check and report bowel movements and character of stools as instructed.

• Collect specimens as instructed (i.e., urine, stools, etc.).

• Assist residents in preparing for medical tests (i.e., lab work, x-ray, therapy, dental, etc.).

• Assist residents in preparing for activity and social programs (i.e., church services, parties, visitors, etc.).

• Assist in transporting residents to/from appointments, activity and social programs, etc., as necessary.

• Assist with lifting, turning, moving, positioning, and transporting residents into and out of beds, chairs, bathtubs, wheelchairs, lifts, etc.

• Answer resident calls promptly.

• Assist residents to work with or without self-help devices as instructed.

• Perform restorative and rehabilitative procedures as instructed.

• Provide eye and ear care (i.e., cleaning eye glasses/hearing aides, etc.).

• Measure and record temperatures, pulse, and respirations (TPRs), as instructed.

• Weigh and measure residents as instructed.

• Assist in preparing the resident for a physical examination.

• Assist with the care of the dying resident.

• Provide post-mortem care as instructed.

• Check residents routinely to assure that their personal care needs are being met.

SPECIAL NURSING CARE FUNCTIONS

• Observe and report the presence of pressure areas and skin breakdowns to prevent pressure sores.

• Provide daily perineal care.

• Turn bedfast residents at least every two (2) hours.

• Perform diabetic urine testing (i.e., clinitest, acetest, etc.).

• Observe disoriented and comatose residents, record and report data as instructed.

• Watch for and report any change in room temperature, ventilation, lighting, etc.

• Turn all medications found in the resident’s room/possession over to the Charge/Staff Nurse.

• Provide residents with Reality Orientation as instructed.

FOOD SERVICE FUNCTIONS

• Prepare residents for meals (i.e., take to bathroom, wash hands, comb hair, raise bed, position tables, place bibs, take to/from dining rooms, etc.).

• Serve food trays, assist with feeding as indicated (i.e., cutting foods, feeding, assist in dining room supervision, etc.).

• Assist residents with identifying food arrangements (i.e., informing residents with sight problems, what foods are on the tray, where it is located, if it is hot/cold, etc.).

• Record the resident’s food/fluid intake. Report changes in the residents’ eating habits.

• Keep residents water pitchers clean and filled with fresh water (on each shift), and within easy reach of the resident.

• Serve between meal and bedtime snacks.

• Perform after meal care (i.e., remove trays, clean resident’s hands, face, clothing, take to bathroom, brush teeth, clean dentures, etc.).

• Check rooms for food articles (i.e., food in proper container, unauthorized food items, etc.).

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Attend and participate in scheduled training and educational classes.

Attend and participate in scheduled orientation programs and activities.

SAFETY AND SANITATION

• Restrain residents in chair/bed as instructed.

• Check restrained residents at least every thirty (30) minutes.

• Release restraint at least every two (2) hours for range of motion exercises, taking to bathroom, etc.

• Maintain a record of restrained residents, the times restraints were released, and how long the residents were released.

• Notify the Charge/Staff Nurse of any resident leaving/missing from the facility.

• Keep floors dry. Report spills immediately.

• Keep excess supplies and equipment off the floor. Store in designated areas.

• Keep residents personal possessions off the floor and properly stored.

• Follow established smoking regulations. Report all violations.

• Keep the nurses’ call system within easy reach of the resident.

• Report all hazardous conditions and equipment to the Charge/Staff Nurse immediately.

• Follow established safety precautions in the performance of all duties.

• Report all safety violations.

• Keep bedside rails up when the resident is in bed.

• Before leaving work areas for breaks, or at the end of the work day, store all tools, equipment, and supplies.

• Wash hands before and after performing any service for the resident.

• Wash wheelchairs, walkers, etc., as instructed.

• Clean, disinfect, and return all resident care equipment to its designated storage area after each use.

• Perform routine housekeeping duties (i.e., clean bedrails, over bed tables, night stands, etc., that relate to nursing care procedures).

• Wash hands before entering and leaving an isolation room/area.

• Report any communicable disease that you contact to the Infection Control Coordinator.

• Follow established isolation precautions and procedures.

• Use gowns and gloves as indicated.

• Follow Universal Precautions.

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY FUNCTIONS

• Use only the equipment you have been trained to use.

• Operate all equipment in a safe manner.

• Use only the equipment and supplies necessary to do the job. Do not be wasteful.

• Report defective equipment to the Charge/Staff Nurse.

• Inform the Charge/Staff Nurse of your equipment and supply needs.

CARE PLAN FUNCTIONS

• Review care plans daily to ensure that you are providing appropriate nursing care.

RESIDENTS’ RIGHTS FUNCTIONS

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.

• Ensure that you treat all residents fairly, and with kindness, dignity and respect.

• Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy.

• Knock before entering the resident’s room.

• Report all grievance and complaints made by the resident to the Charge/Staff Nurse.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Works in well-lighted and ventilated area(s) throughout the nursing service area (i.e., drug rooms, nurse’s stations, resident rooms, etc.)

• Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during working hours.

• Is subject to frequent interruptions.

• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.

• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel and visitors.

• Communicates with nursing personnel, and other department personnel.

• Is willing to work beyond normal working hours, on weekends and holidays, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.

• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.

• Is subject to falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day.

• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc.

• Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for social services/activities.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess, as a minimum, an 8th grade education.

• Must be a Certified Nursing Assistant, or enrolled in a Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program.

EXPERIENCE

• None. On-the-job Training.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to write the English language in a legible and understanding manner.

• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such actions.

• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.

• Must be a minimum of eighteen (18) years of age.

• Must possess the ability and willingness to work harmoniously with professional and non-professional personnel.

• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents.

• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.

• Must be able to speak the English language in an understandable manner.

• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.

• Must be able to see and hear, or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to assure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.

• Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.

• Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.

• Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people within the facility.

• Must be able to lift a minimum of fifty (50) pounds.