Hospice Aide - Certified Nurse Assistant, CNA

Tufts Medicine • Lowell, MA

5d

About The Position

This trained paraprofessional provides personal and incidental care to patients as instructed by and under the supervision of a professional clinician. Care is provided according to physician orders and the patient’s home health aide or hospice aide care plan, with assistance ranging from supervision and cueing to total care. Patients may receive care in private homes, assisted living settings, skilled nursing facilities, and hospice inpatient facilities.

The role is an experienced nursing support position requiring basic knowledge of job procedures and tools, acquired through work experience and vocational or technical education. The aide works under moderate supervision and handles routine problems, while sometimes interpreting or deviating from standard procedures. The position is full-time, 40 hours per week, with weekend and holiday rotation, serving Lowell, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas.

Requirements

• High school degree or equivalent.
• Massachusetts Nurse Aide Certificate or New Hampshire Licensed Nurse Assistant credential.
• Valid driver’s license.
• If hired before September 28, 2026, CPR certification is required upon hire; if hired after that date, BLS certification is required within 30 days of hire.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to provide age-appropriate care to the patients served.
• Flexibility, sensitivity to others’ needs, and ability to cope with emergencies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate, read, and write in English.
• Ability to function effectively, manage time, and prioritize busy schedules.
• Tact and sensitivity when dealing with emotional or stressful patient situations.
• Responsibility and reliability.
• Good organizational skills.
• Ability to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell.
• Ability to regularly lift and/or move 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
• Close and distance vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to work in moderate noise and exposure to weather conditions prevalent at the time.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in dementia care, memory care, or hospice.

Responsibilities

• Provide care as instructed in the home health aide or hospice aide care plan, at the level of assistance specified.
• Promptly notify the supervising clinician or aide supervisor when a patient refuses care or the patient’s care needs change.
• Assist patients with bathing, dressing, grooming, ambulation and mobility, toileting, and nutrition and hydration.
• Support patient and family choices regarding clothing, accessories, hearing aids, and eyeglasses when assisting with grooming and dressing, including hair styling, manicure, and pedicure.
• Provide bowel and bladder training, catheter care, ostomy care, and assistance with adaptive equipment as designated in the aide care plan.
• Identify personal safety risks, including firearms in the home and oxygen safety concerns, and promptly report concerns to the aide supervisor.
• Follow designated infection-control protocols, including universal precautions, biohazardous waste disposal, and isolation techniques.
• Identify and report changes in mobility, weakness, sleepiness, or fatigue to the supervising professional clinician.
• Identify and report physical, mental, and functional changes to the supervising professional clinician.
• Identify and report respiratory concerns, such as changes in breathing patterns or increased secretions, to the supervising professional clinician.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits starting on day one.
• 403(b) retirement plan with company match.
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education support, including access to MedBridge for PT CEUs and licensure or certification support.
• Career growth opportunities.
• Fleet car program.
• AVADE de-escalation and self-safety training.
• InvisaWear GPS-enabled safety devices.
• Escort services to support staff safety in the field.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED