Certified Nursing Assistant

Dunes Hospice • Valparaiso, IN

1d • Onsite

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 observations, and documents care. A Case Manager assigns the aide to support quality, continuity, and safety of care.

The role is performed in a community home environment and involves frequent travel in and out of an automobile during working hours. The aide must follow organizational care and documentation procedures, professional standards, and the limits of the role: the aide may not practice nursing, administer medications, take physician’s orders, or perform procedures requiring the training and skills of a licensed nurse.

Requirements

• Complete at least 75 hours of classroom and supervised practical training; be at least 18 years of age. Sixteen classroom hours must be completed before the required 16 hours of practical training.
• Maintain current CPR certification.
• Be able to read and follow written instructions and document care given.
• Have knowledge of corporate business management, governmental regulations, and ACHC standards.
• Hold a valid driver’s license and have an insured, well-maintained automobile meeting state and/or organizational requirements; driving is required throughout working hours.
• Demonstrate observation, verbal and written communication, problem-solving, and basic math skills.
• Comply with accepted professional standards and practice.
• Organize and prioritize independently, make judgments based on assessments and available data, and act accordingly; be flexible, innovative, and have good interpersonal skills.
• Be able to cope with mental and emotional stress and demonstrate emotional stability.
• Tolerate exposure to odors, blood, body fluids, excrement, adverse environmental conditions, and hazardous materials.
• Accept different lifestyles, cultures, beliefs, and values.
• Have knowledge of and commitment to the hospice philosophy of care.
• Have good oral and written communication skills and good organizational skills.
• Meet the physical requirements of prolonged or considerable walking and standing; lifting, positioning, and transferring patients; lifting supplies and equipment; and considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and/or crouching.
• Have the visual acuity and hearing needed to perform required certified nursing assistant skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide assigned personal care promptly and report immediately to the Case Manager when unable to perform a task.
• Communicate positively and respectfully with patients and families while maintaining confidentiality.
• Meet patient safety needs and use equipment safely and properly.
• Provide personal care, including bathing, back rubs, oral hygiene, shampooing, and changing bed linen as assigned.
• Assist patients with dressing and undressing.
• Assist with preparing nutritious meals and feeding patients as requested or assigned.
• Take and record oral and auxiliary temperatures, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure when ordered and when competency has been demonstrated.
• Observe and provide proper skin care to help prevent tissue breakdown over bony prominences.
• Assess and report patient condition and significant changes to the Case Manager, including awareness of caregiver or household interpersonal issues.
• Assist with ambulation, exercise, range of motion, transfers, and positioning as instructed or directed by the hospice nurse or therapist.
• Assist with self-administered medications as permitted by state regulations, such as providing reminders.
• Offer and assist with bedpans and urinals, and provide assigned light laundry assistance.
• Perform ordered range-of-motion and other simple procedures as an extensional therapy service when competency has been demonstrated.
• Provide respite for the patient, family, or caregiver when on-site, as appropriate.
• Keep the patient’s living area clean and orderly as assigned.
• Follow organizational documentation, care procedures, and standards of personal and professional conduct.
• Participate in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
• Respect the patient’s and family or caregiver’s environment and personal needs.
• Work as a member of the interdisciplinary group.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed