Hospice Aide (CNA)

Iowa Care Community Inc, Iowa City Hospice, Visiting Nurse Association•Iowa City, IA

About The Position

The Hospice Aide provides compassionate, one-on-one care to hospice patients and support to their families. The role focuses on comfort, dignity, and quality of life while working with an interdisciplinary hospice team. The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a one-hour midday break if preferred. The aide assists patients with daily living activities, observes and reports changes in condition, provides companionship and emotional support, and assists with medications and treatments under a nurse’s direction. The role also includes helping maintain a clean and safe environment, following safety and infection-control guidance, and collaborating with the hospice care team. The position requires an active Iowa nurse aide certificate, completion of specified home health aide training and certification steps, and a car, driver’s license, and adequate insurance. Continued employment requires obtaining current CPR, Mandatory Reporter certifications, and Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative certification by the third year of employment. Work-related experience is preferred, with hospice, palliative, or home health experience noted as preferred but not required.

Requirements

Active Iowa CNA certification and an Iowa Nurse Aide Certificate Number.
Completion of the 75-hour home health aide training program.
Completion of the written and skills portions of the National Homemaker-Home Health Aide Certification Program.
A car, driver’s license, and adequate insurance as outlined in personnel policies; proof of license and current insurance coverage is required.
Ability to assist patients with mobility and personal care.
Effective English communication skills, verbally and in writing.
Professionalism, sound decision-making, effective interpersonal skills, and adherence to ethics, standards, and agency policies and procedures.
Organization and time-management skills to manage workload and productivity expectations.
Ability to work independently and maintain confidentiality in client, employee, and agency matters.
Ability to demonstrate initiative, maintain and update professional knowledge, and make decisions within the parameters of an aide.
All offers are conditioned on a criminal background check conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and a negative finding on the Office of Inspector General’s Excluded Provider List.
To continue employment in the position, obtain current CPR, Mandatory Reporter certifications, and Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative certification in hospice and palliative care by the third year of employment.

Nice To Haves

CNA work experience.
Hospice, palliative, or home health care experience.
Two years of work-related experience.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and mobility.
Observe and report changes in patients’ conditions.
Provide companionship, emotional support, and a reassuring presence.
Assist with medications and treatments under the direction of a nurse.
Help maintain a clean, safe, and calming environment for patients.
Collaborate with nurses, social workers, and the hospice care team.
Follow safety and infection-control guidelines.
Maintain confidentiality and demonstrate professional decision-making within the parameters of an aide.
Recognize unmet needs and ensure a timely and appropriate response.
Keep professional knowledge current and use agency information about policy and procedure changes.
Use technology effectively and appropriately, including client-care equipment, an iPad, smartphones, voicemail, and email.

Benefits

Wellmark medical and dental coverage.
Avesis vision coverage.
Voluntary benefits through Unum, including short-term disability, critical illness, and accident coverage.
Employer-paid life and disability insurance.
Paid vacation and sick leave.
403(b) retirement plan with company match.
Thorough orientation and ongoing professional development.
Company car or mileage reimbursement.
iPhone and iPad provided for work.
Free parking.