Caregiver/Certified Nurse Aide

Department: Nursing - WNH Classification: (S Plus )
Reports to: Assistant Director of Nursing

Position summary: Primarily responsible for providing direct patient care to residents and other related duties as assigned.

Works cooperatively and respectfully with residents, coworkers, families, visitors, and volunteers to create a positive and pleasant environment in the home. Promotes the residents' psychosocial well-being through meaningful relationship building, and works with the household team to meet other social service needs of the resident and of the household, always providing support, friendship and kindness for each of the household members. All tasks are performed in accordance with current standards, policies, guidelines and regulations and in a safe and efficient manner.

Essential skills and experience:

• Must hold current Nursing Assistant Certification in Tennessee, or be eligible to obtain certification within four months of employment.
• Proficient reading, writing, grammar, and mathematics skills; proficient interpersonal relations, and communicative skills; auditory and visual skills; satisfactory completion of post-offer, pre-employment physical as required.
• Computer proficiency, including word and excel
• Time management: the ability to organize and manage multiple priorities

Preferred skills and experience:

• A minimum of three months' prior nursing assistant experience in long-term care preferred.

Reporting to this position: No direct reports.

Essential Duties:

1. Assist and escort residents for appointments such as beauty shop, activities, church services, etc. Participate in activities and functions as directed.
2. Lift, move, and transport residents, using proper body mechanics or lifting devices for accident prevention.
3. Perform various tasks assigned by the household nurse and Team Leaders including but not limited to household checklists, vital signs, residents' weights, applying creams/ointments, collecting specimens, etc.
4. Assist with orienting residents and their families to the home upon admission and when transfers occur.
5. Provide care that maintains each resident's skin integrity to prevent pressure ulcers, skin tears, and other damage by changing incontinent residents, turning, repositioning immobile residents
6. Answer residents' call lights promptly and courteously.
7. Operates washer, dryer and other laundry equipment.
8. Assist in folding, stacking, hanging and distribute laundry and linen as necessary.
9. Wash, soak, dry, etc., soiled laundry and linen.
10. Handle and wash infectious linens and dispose of infectious waste; strictly following policies and procedures.
11. Sweep and mop as needed and/or instructed.
12. Dust furniture, light fixtures, lamps, window ledges, air conditioner units, etc.
13. Empty and change liners in all waste cans daily, or when needed.
14. Clean and wash all basins, commodes, lavatories and fixtures.
15. Clean all chrome fixtures to avoid water marks.
16. Spot clean all walls.
17. Check vacant rooms daily to keep fresh, and furniture straight.
18. Pickup bottles, paper, etc., from floors, rooms, and put in proper place.
19. Clean resident rooms daily.
20. Keep cleaning closets clean and neat.
21. Supports Team Leaders and new employees in the mentoring process.
22. Protect the personal belongings of each resident including eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids, furnishings, jewelry, clothing, memorabilia, etc. Promptly report missing items according to established policy and participate in efforts to locate missing items.
23. Perform all job responsibilities in accordance with prescribed safety and infection control procedures including thorough hand washing, use of disposable gloves, and proper disposal of soiled materials.
24. Must maintain skill necessary to safely and efficiently operate the following equipment and machines used in the performance of this job: Telephone, mechanical lifts, electronic scales, shower equipment, adjustable chairs/beds, and various other equipment and supplies.
25. Be accountable for and understand all computer systems that are needed for you to perform your job duties.
26. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Essential Expectations:

1. The employee is expected to adhere to all Uplands policies.
2. Provide individualized attention, which encourages each resident's ability to maintain or attain the highest practical physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being.
3. Contribute to the care planning process by providing the household nurse, Team Leaders or other care planning staff with specific information and observations of the residents' needs and preferences
4. Attend to the individual needs of residents which may include assistance with grooming, bathing, oral hygiene, feeding, incontinent care, toileting, colostomy care, prosthetic appliances, transferring, ambulating, range of motion, communicating, or other needs in keeping with the individuals care requirements.
5. Walk extensively to and from rooms as assigned, making rounds.
6. Communicate and interact effectively and tactfully with the residents, visitors, families, coworkers, team leaders and supervisors.
7. Observe residents for changes in condition or behavior and promptly report these changes to appropriate licensed nursing personnel and household coordinator.
8. Assist in maintaining a clean, safe, and sanitary laundry area.
9. Assist in maintaining a safe, neat, and clean environment; report environmental deficiencies to maintenance such as lighting or equipment problems to the Household Coordinator.
10. Must maintain skill necessary to safely and efficiently use various equipment and supplies. Use only supplies that are needed - Do not be wasteful.
11. Maintain the comfort, privacy, and dignity of each resident in the delivery of services to them. Interact with residents in a manner that displays warmth and promotes a caring environment.
12. Fully understand all aspects of residents' rights, including the right to be free of restraints and free of abuse. Responsible for promptly reporting to the charge, director of nursing, or administrator incidents or evidence of resident abuse or violation of residents' rights.
13. Perform all job responsibilities in accordance with prescribed safety and infection control procedures including thorough hand washing, use of disposable gloves, and proper disposal of soiled materials.
14. Must maintain skill necessary to safely and efficiently operate the following equipment and machines used in the performance of this job: Telephone, mechanical lifts, electronic scales, shower equipment, adjustable chairs/beds, and various other equipment and supplies.

Organizational behaviors and standards:

• Friendly - Actively seeks opportunities to provide outstanding service to others.
• Resident Care - Consistently anticipates and meets each resident's directed service needs.
• Caring and Compassionate - Purposefully takes the time to listen, keep residents informed and offer empathy.
• Energetic Teamwork - Actively supports others, works with others, and makes others look good. Provides leadership that empowers other members of the team to meet the residents wants and needs.
• Leadership and Professionalism - Displays pride in work and Uplands.
• Problem solving - Utilize 'win/win' problem solving model when attempting to solve work related problems.
• Environmental - Demonstrates safe work habits, genuinely takes pride in the appearance of the overall work area.
• Communication - Demonstrates appropriate communication related to face-to-face communication, telephone, answering calls, placing a call on hold, transferring calls, voice mail, use of speaker phone, and email.
• Commitment - Demonstrates commitment to the organization's vision, mission and values, co-workers, and self-development. Commitment to eliminate loneliness, helplessness, and boredom in the lives of residents.
• Diversity - Engages in interactions with an open mind while being non-judgmental and treats everyone with dignity and respect.
• Attendance - Regular and reliable attendance.
• Confidentiality - Protects confidentiality and privacy.
• Safety - Contributes to a culture of safety.

Physical demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: See Physical Requirements form
• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to odors, body excretions, and infections. Subject to bruises, scratches etc. from patients. The noise level is usually moderate.