Certified Hospice Aide

Pennant Group•Amarillo, TX

About The Position

The hospice aide is a paraprofessional member of the interdisciplinary group who works under the supervision of a registered nurse. The aide provides services to meet patients’ personal needs and promote comfort, observes patients, reports and documents observations and care provided, and is assigned in a manner that promotes quality, continuity, and safety of care. The role does not include practicing nursing, administering medications, taking physician’s orders, or performing procedures that require the training and skills of a licensed nurse, such as sterile techniques. The employee may also be asked to perform other job-related tasks not listed in the description. The position requires meeting state training requirements and completing an applicable state-established training and competency evaluation program or qualifying state licensure program. Candidates must be at least 18, have current CPR certification, and be able to travel for agency-related work using a valid driver’s license, automobile insurance, and access to a vehicle. The employer is an independent operating subsidiary of The Pennant Group, Inc., which provides healthcare services through home health and hospice agencies and senior living communities across the United States.

Requirements

Complete a state-established or other qualifying training program and competency evaluation program, or a qualifying state licensure program, meeting the stated federal requirements; meet applicable state training requirements.
Be at least 18 years of age.
Be able to read and follow written instructions and document care provided.
Understand hospice philosophy and be comfortable providing specialized care to terminally ill patients.
Provide satisfactory references from previous employers.
Be self-directing and able to work with little direct supervision.
Be secure with issues of death and dying and maintain a calm manner in a patient’s home.
Have empathy for the needs of ill, injured, frail, and impaired people.
Possess and maintain current CPR certification.
Demonstrate tact, patience, and good personal hygiene.
Be able to drive or otherwise access transportation for agency-related travel; maintain a valid driver’s license and automobile insurance, and have access to an automobile.
Have good oral and written communication skills.
Have good organizational skills.

Responsibilities

Perform assigned personal care promptly and report to the Case Manager when unable to perform a task.
Meet patients’ safety needs and use equipment safely and properly, including foot stools, side rails, and oxygen equipment.
Provide personal care, including baths, back rubs, oral hygiene, shampoos, and changing bed linens as assigned.
Assist patients with dressing and undressing.
Plan and prepare nutritious meals, including shopping, as assigned.
Assist patients with feeding as assigned.
Take and record oral, rectal, and axillary temperatures, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure when ordered and when competency has been demonstrated.
Provide appropriate skin care and observe patients’ skin to help prevent tissue breakdown over bony prominences.
Report patients’ conditions and significant changes to the Case Manager, and remain aware of caregivers, others living with the patient, and interpersonal issues.
Assist with ambulation and exercise as instructed by the hospice nurse or therapist.
Offer and assist with bedpans and urinals.
Provide light laundry assistance as assigned.
Perform range-of-motion exercises and other simple procedures as an extensional therapy service when ordered and when competency has been demonstrated.
Provide respite for patients, families, or caregivers when on-site, as appropriate.
Keep patients’ living areas clean and orderly as assigned.
Follow the organization’s documentation and care procedures and standards of personal and professional conduct.
Participate in quality assessment and performance improvement teams and activities.
Respect patients’ and families’ or caregivers’ environments and personal needs.