CNA Full Time - Signature Medford Hospice

Home Health Aide

Provides quality, supportive care to assigned clients in their place of residence, according to the established plan of care under the instruction and supervision of a registered nurse. Assists clients toward optimal independence by providing personal care, light housekeeping and specific delegated nursing tasks.

Duties & Responsibilities

Safety & Emergency

Attends annual safety and infection control education required by the agency.

Uses safe precautions as appropriate for patients, and self, e.g. proper positioning of self, good body mechanics, universal precautions, defensive driving skills.

Knows evacuation plan in each home that service is provided.

Standards

Support mission, values and goals of Signature Healthcare at Home.

Meets Signature Healthcare at Home standards for attendance and punctuality; maintains professional manner in dress and in speech.

Completes mandatory education requirements annually and documents same.

Follows agency policies.

Maintains confidentiality of patients' and families' private health and other information.

Attends agency staff meetings as required.

Functions as a member of a team of caregivers, promoting team communication and support.

Meets productivity expectations for this position; organizes tasks and managers time effectively.

Documents client services legibly, accurately and in concert with agency standards.

Can work well alone, without supervision. Asks appropriate questions when unsure of an assignment, takes initiative in areas expected of him/her. Uses good judgment in difficult situations.

Works as scheduled; notifies the supervisor or designee of delays or absences within established expectations.

Able to problem-solve effectively when the home environment is not physically safe for staff or the patient.

Work Performed

Makes home visits to provide or assist with personal hygiene including shampooing hair, grooming, bathing, shaving, dressing, mouth care, nail care as instructed by the plan of care.

Performance of simple procedures as assigned by the Registered Nurse:

• Personal Care
• Ambulation and exercise
• Household services essential to health care at home
• Assistance with medications that are ordinarily self-administered
• Reporting changes in the patient's condition and needs

Completing appropriate records the day of service. Any other task the agency may choose to have the home health aide perform.

Interpersonal

Works cooperatively with others; works out issues and problems with others assertively.

Follows the line of authority when one-on-one problem solving doesn't work.

Contributes to a positive atmosphere in the office as well as patient's homes.

Willing to help others when needed.

Possesses personal authority to the needs and experiences of others and a non-judgmental attitude towards persons of differing standards, values, lifestyles and ages.

Work Environment

May be required to attend to patients in homes that are not clean, are infested with insects or rodents and second hand smoke.

Pathways to & from houses as well as inside of houses may be cluttered and in poor repair.

Driving conditions may be difficult related to weather and/or traffic.

Working environment may have short periods of inadequate ventilation and/or temperature control.

Physical Requirements

Able to drive a vehicle up to 80 miles in one day.

Able to tolerate driving in congested areas and frequent changes in schedules due to unexpected time constraints.

Able to climb stairs, inside or outside patient's homes.

Able to lift, bend, push and pull at least 40 pounds without assistance.

Able to provide physical care to dependent patients who may be frail, elderly, obese and/or physically impaired; provide up to total assist with patient positioning, transfers and ambulation.

Able to bend, squat and/or kneel to provide patient care.

Able to perform fine motor skills such as wound dressing with clean technique, external catheter care and/or range of motion.

Able to read, write and verbally communicate effectively in English.

Able to tolerate short periods of secondary smoke, inadequate ventilation or temperature control.

Compliance

Maintains knowledge of and adheres to all applicable laws, rules, and standards.

Reports, as appropriate, actual or suspicious activity related to fraud and/or operational abuse of laws, regulations and standards.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

Job Requirements (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

Education: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training or the equivalent in the state in which you are applying for work in.

Licensure/Certification: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification, inclusion of the State Board of Nursing Nurse Aide Registry, and current CPR certification. Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state and/or organization requirements and is in good working order.

Experience/Skills: Prior to providing care to a patient, the home health aide must be evaluated by a RN/PT/OT for competency in each of the following areas:

• Communication skills, including sensitivity to the needs and experiences of others;
• Observation of, reporting of, and documentation about the patient and care provided;
• Maintenance of a clean, safe and healthy environment;
• Basic infection control procedures;
• Basic nutrition and fluid intake;
• Reading and recording temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration;
• Basic elements of body functioning and changes in body function that must be reported to an aide's supervisor;
• Recognizing emergencies and knowledge of emergency procedures;
• The physical, emotional, and developmental needs of, and ways to work with, the populations served by the agency, including the need for respect for the patient, the patient's privacy, and the patient's property;
• Appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene and grooming that include:
• Bed bath;
• Sponge, tub, or shower bath;
• Shampoo: sink, tub, or bed;
• Nail and skin care;
• Oral hygiene;
• Toileting and elimination;
• Safe transfer techniques and ambulation;
• Normal range of motion and positioning.

The employer for this position is stated in the job posting. The Pennant Group, Inc. is a holding company of independent operating subsidiaries that provide healthcare services through home health and hospice agencies and senior living communities located throughout the US. Each of these businesses is operated by a separate, independent operating subsidiary that has its own management, employees and assets.