Resident Assistant: Part-Time Evenings

Good Shepherd Lutheran Services•Winona, MN

23h•Onsite

About The Position

The Resident Assistant provides direct resident care according to each resident’s plan of care and under the direct supervision of the Charge Nurse. The role focuses on maintaining or improving residents’ physical, mental, and psychosocial functioning while promoting resident choice, dignity, and quality of life. The position is part-time, scheduled for evenings, and is non-exempt. Some travel may be required. The work takes place in a well-lit, well-ventilated work area. The Resident Assistant supports residents with nutrition, continence, mobility, personal hygiene, comfort, rest, socialization, and therapeutic activities. The role includes observing residents and promptly reporting changes in condition, safety, mobility, appetite, elimination, communication, skin integrity, or behavior to the appropriate nurse. The assistant communicates respectfully with residents, families, and staff; documents care; follows care plans and established safety, infection-control, privacy, and emergency procedures; and performs certain tasks after special training, such as taking vital signs and changing oxygen tanks. The role requires physical activity that includes standing, bending, walking, and assisting residents. It may also involve sitting, climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling, lifting, and supporting residents or objects. The job description specifies regular lifting or moving of objects up to 10 pounds, frequent support of 10–50 pounds, and the possibility of carrying or supporting 25 pounds or greater in emergencies.

Requirements

Must be at least 16 years of age.
Able to read, write, follow oral and written instructions, and document care provided in English.
Must have successfully completed an approved NA training program and be on the Minnesota NA Registry, or be enrolled in an approved training program and successfully complete the class and testing within four months of hire.
Able to communicate clearly and effectively with residents, family members, and staff using tact and diplomacy.
Able to plan, pay attention to detail and accuracy, use initiative, and work effectively with minimal supervision.
Able to maintain a positive, patient, understanding, and professional manner with residents, families, and staff.
Able to document daily services and care provided.
Able to work cooperatively as part of a team and support team members.
Able to accept supervision and follow directives, policies, rules, and regulations.
Able to use problem-solving skills, recognize potential and actual problems, and respond constructively to changes and new approaches.
Able to remain alert to changes in residents’ status and to identify and report problems and hazards; use observation to determine when a licensed nurse should assess a resident.
Able to react calmly and efficiently to new or stressful situations.
Demonstrate sensitivity, patience, gentleness, concern, sincerity, warmth, and friendliness toward residents, families, and staff.
Maintain confidentiality of written and verbal information, and demonstrate integrity, honesty, tact, diplomacy, and professional behavior.
Maintain a neat and well-groomed appearance and use property, supplies, and time carefully.
Regularly stand, bend, and walk; may also sit, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, push, and pull.
Regularly lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and frequently support 10–50 pounds; emergency situations may require carrying or supporting 25 pounds or greater.
Use hands for repetitive actions, including simple grasping, firm grasping, and fine manipulation.
Have functional hearing ability to read medical records, make observations, and document in writing and computer records.
Be able to perform the job duties listed in the description.

Responsibilities

Provide direct resident care according to individual care plans and NA Standards of Care, supporting residents’ physical, mental, and psychosocial functioning, choices, dignity, and quality of life.
Provide nutritional care, including serving appropriate meals and snacks, assisting or monitoring residents during meals, encouraging and recording intake as directed, supplying fresh water, measuring weight as directed, and reporting changes in appetite or eating ability.
Provide continence care, including assisting with toileting and elimination programs, collecting routine samples as directed, maintaining catheter positioning and cleanliness, emptying and recording output, providing colostomy care as directed, recording bowel movements, keeping residents clean and dry, and reporting changes in elimination patterns.
Assist residents with ambulation, transfers, positioning, repositioning, range-of-motion exercises, rehabilitation and restorative programs, and participation in social or therapeutic activities; use prescribed assistive devices and proper body mechanics; report mobility changes, incidents, or injuries.
Assist with bathing, hair and skin care, grooming, perineal care, dressing, oral and denture hygiene, nail care, and shaving; report changes in activities of daily living or skin integrity.
Support resident comfort and quality of life by following preferred routines and care-plan choices, supporting rest and naps, reporting discomfort, assisting with socialization and mental stimulation, and maintaining a clean, comfortable, and pleasant environment, including changing linens and tidying rooms.
Communicate therapeutically and respectfully with residents, families, and staff; adapt communication to residents’ abilities; respond to expressed needs; receive shift report; report unmet requests and changes in communication; and report off to the nurse before leaving duty.
Protect residents, employees, and the public by following infection-control practices, call-light and fall-prevention procedures, HIPAA requirements, safety policies, emergency plans, resident care plans, and equipment-use procedures; report hazards, incidents, injuries, and changes in resident status promptly.
Perform specially trained tasks, including taking vital signs, changing oxygen tanks, and documenting care, vital signs, intake and output, behaviors, and other information as directed.
Perform other duties as assigned by the licensed nurse or Household Manager.