Nursing Assistant - Sterling Heights

PACE Southeast Michigan•Sterling Heights, MI

About The Position

The Participant Care Associate (PCA) provides supportive services to participants in their homes, community settings, during transportation and appointments, and in the day health center and dementia unit. Services are defined in each participant’s PCA/CNA Care Plan, which is based on initial and ongoing assessments performed by a home care RNCM. The PCA supports the physical and emotional comfort of frail older adults and helps participants and their families achieve maximum self-reliance and independence within their environments. The PCA provides only the care and services specified in the participant’s Care Plan and works within the established scope of practice. The role requires accurate, timely documentation of services provided and communication with the RNCM or clinic nurse about participant progress. The PCA reports customer service complaints and deviations from schedules or appointments to a supervisor or manager and responds to emergencies according to established policies and procedures. The PCA participates in mandatory annual in-service training and screening, including infection control, TB testing, safety, and BLS training. Competency is established before independent work and monitored through skills evaluations, in-services, practicum demonstrations, written assessments, and department staff meetings. Medical clearance for communicable diseases and up-to-date immunizations are required before direct participant contact.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Valid Michigan driver’s license.
Current CPR card.
At least one year of experience with a frail or elderly population in a long-term care, hospital, or home care setting.
Certificate of completion from a formal training program outside PACE SEMI, such as Direct Care, Nurse Assistant, Medical Assistant, or Patient Care Technician.
Ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and interdepartmental relationships.
Respect for participants’ and coworkers’ physical and spiritual well-being.
Ability to problem-solve and interpret instructions.
Ability to organize and maintain flexible scheduling to coordinate job responsibilities.
Ability to work sensitively with people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Ability to relate to participants with dementia and/or developmental disabilities.
Ability to perform duties amid frequent interruptions.
Must meet a standardized set of competencies approved by CMS before working independently.
Must be medically cleared for communicable diseases and have up-to-date immunizations before direct participant contact.
Must participate in mandatory annual in-service training and screening, including infection control, TB testing, safety training, and BLS training.

Nice To Haves

Nursing assistant or other relevant certification is optional but preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide or help maintain participants’ physical and emotional comfort in their homes, community settings, day health center, dementia unit, and during transportation and appointments.
Support participants and their families in achieving maximum self-reliance and independence.
Provide care and services specified in each participant’s Care Plan and applicable Care Guidelines.
Assist with personal care, activities, meal preparation and feeding, toileting and incontinence management, and simple treatments.
Provide shopping, medication reminders, laundry, extended-hours care, homemaking and chores, transportation, and off-site appointment support.
Document care and services accurately and promptly for every visit or encounter, including transportation and appointments, using the PCA/CNA progress note.
Keep the RNCM or clinic nurse informed of participant progress.
Immediately report customer service complaints and deviations from schedules or appointments to a supervisor or manager.
Respond to emergency situations according to established policies and procedures.
Work within the established scope of practice.
Participate in required annual in-service training and screening, competency evaluations, and department staff meetings.