Hospice Aide - Certified Nurse Assistant, CNA

Tufts Medicine • Lowell, MA

5d • $20 - $25 • Onsite

About The Position

This position is a trained paraprofessional who provides personal care and other incidental care to patients as instructed by and under the supervision of a professional clinician. The aide provides care in a variety of settings, including private homes, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and hospice inpatient facilities, for patients receiving home health or hospice care. Care is provided in accordance with the aide care plan and may range from supervision and cueing to total care.

The role provides basic nursing support without an RN or LPN license and works under moderate supervision. The position requires vocational or technical education and work experience, with routine problems handled using job knowledge and procedures. The aide communicates patient needs and changes to the supervising clinician or aide supervisor.

The position is full-time, 40 hours per week, with weekend and holiday rotation. The service area is Lowell, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas. Work includes field visits and exposure to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The work environment usually has a moderate noise level.

Requirements

• High school degree or equivalent.
• MA Nurse Aide Certificate or NH Licensed Nurse Assistant.
• Valid driver’s license.
• For hires before 9/28/2026, CPR certification is required upon hire; for hires after 9/28/2026, 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.
• 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 handling 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.
• Vision abilities including close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Provide care to patients as instructed in the home health aide or hospice aide care plan, at the level of assistance specified in the plan.
• 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 while assisting with grooming and dressing, including hair styling, manicures, and pedicures.
• Provide bowel and bladder training, catheter care, ostomy care, and assistance with adaptive equipment as designated in the aide care plan.
• Identify risks to personal safety, such as firearms in the home or oxygen safety concerns, and promptly report concerns to the aide supervisor.
• Follow infection-control protocols, including universal precautions, biohazardous 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

• Competitive salaries and benefits.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits starting 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.
• Opportunities for career growth.
• Fleet car program to reduce personal vehicle burden for clinicians in the field.
• 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: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED