Nursing students- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation•Newton, NJ

About The Position

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is seeking nursing students who have completed the Fundamentals of Nursing course and may be eligible to apply for a Certified Nurse Aide training waiver through the New Jersey Department of Health. The role offers an opportunity to put nursing education into practice, gain hands-on experience, develop clinical and communication skills, and build confidence while caring for patients in a supportive healthcare environment. The schedule is flexible based on availability. The CNA assists patients with activities of daily living and oral hygiene, mobility and transfers, positioning, meals, catheter and ostomy care, simple dressings, skin care, and other care as directed or demonstrated by an RN. The position also involves observing and reporting changes in patient condition, completing shift reports and documentation, preparing rooms and equipment, maintaining supplies and cleanliness, following infection-control and emergency-preparedness practices, and complying with attendance, dress-code, and employment policies.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Current Home Health Aide certification from the New Jersey Board of Nursing, or Certified Nurse Aide certification approved by the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services.
Knowledge of skills required to provide excellent care in accordance with the role of a Certified Home Health Aide or Certified Nurse Aide in a hospice environment.
Excellent interpersonal skills for interacting with patients, families, nurses, and employees.
Ability to comprehend spoken and written English and communicate clearly verbally and in writing.
Visual acuity sufficient to read a thermometer and auditory acuity sufficient to hear and comprehend normal speaking tones and call bells, with or without assistive devices.
Organizational skills to manage time and prepare care-related documentation.
Ability to complete a minimum of 12 hours of in-service education per year.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience working in a home care or hospice environment.
Completion of a Fundamentals of Nursing course as a nursing student; eligible students may apply for a CNA training waiver through the New Jersey Department of Health.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with personal activities of daily living and oral hygiene while promoting self-direction and personal decision-making and protecting health and safety.
Safely assist patients with transfers to beds, chairs, and commodes; ambulation; and use of walkers and canes.
Assist bed-bound patients with range-of-motion exercises, turning, and positioning.
Demonstrate safe and effective use of a Hoyer lift as instructed by the RN.
Perform shift-to-shift reports and rounding, including patient observation, repositioning, and wet checks.
Learn and use agency technology to improve efficiency, communication, and performance.
Perform catheter care according to policy and procedure.
Prepare equipment for return to vendors and store it in appropriate areas.
Stock supplies, monitor inventory, and alert appropriate staff when supplies are low.
Apply ostomy bags and simple dressings as instructed and demonstrated by the RN.
Prepare rooms for new admissions, including setting up beds, oxygen, and suction as applicable.
Provide skin care as directed by the RN to help prevent skin breakdown and report observations to the RN.
Assist patients at mealtimes with setup, feeding, and tray distribution as assigned in the Aide Care Plan.
Observe patients’ physical and emotional status and promptly report changes in condition or family situation.
Assist with post-mortem care as instructed by the RN.
Complete documentation before leaving the shift and report off to the incoming RN and Hospice Aide.
Safely change occupied and unoccupied beds and wash patients’ personal laundry and bed linens when needed.
Observe and participate in facility emergency-preparedness and disaster plans.
Follow infection-control practices.
Participate in building and grounds maintenance and complete assigned tasks promptly, including maintaining temperature logs and cleaning schedules.
Answer call bells promptly and follow through on patient requests.
Participate in required in-service education programs and meetings.
Adhere to attendance standards and provide advance notice of absences or tardiness.
Follow employment policies in the Employee Handbook and comply with the dress code, including wearing an ID badge and maintaining a professional appearance.
Perform other duties as assigned.