Resident Care Attendant (PRN)

Lambeth House•New Orleans, LA

About The Position

Resident Care Attendants (RCAs) support residents with day-to-day needs, performing personal and housekeeping tasks residents would otherwise complete themselves. They make scheduled rounds, help during meals, and escort residents to and from activities. RCAs work with other team members to encourage independence, support resident choice, and preserve residents’ dignity through professional conduct and interactions. The role includes assisting with activities and instrumental activities of daily living according to each resident’s service plan; providing social and emotional support; communicating respectfully with residents and families; reporting resident needs, unusual events, suspected abuse, and changes in condition or behavior; and participating in planning resident services. RCAs also complete housekeeping and meal-related tasks, provide medication assistance within policy, maintain required documentation, respond to calls using a two-way radio and pager, and follow infection-control, confidentiality, dress-code, and other workplace policies. The position requires compassion, respect, communication skills, initiative, sound judgment, flexibility, and reliable completion of assigned duties. The posting requires certification as a nursing assistant. It also requires a high school diploma or equivalent, English reading and writing ability, and current adult first aid and CPR certification within 90 days of employment as required by DH standards. Additional annual in-service training is required, including at least 12 hours covering ADLs and IADLs, in addition to required dementia training.

Requirements

Must be a certified nursing assistant.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to read and write English.
Current adult first aid certification and certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation within 90 days of employment, as required by DH standards.
Ability to communicate effectively with residents, families, and coworkers.
Interest in working with older residents and understanding of the special needs of frail elderly people.
Mental and physical health sufficient to perform the required duties.
Ability to lift, push, or pull 35 pounds without assistance.
Ability to use a timeclock correctly.

Responsibilities

Assist residents with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living according to their service plans.
Provide social and emotional support, respond to calls for assistance, encourage participation in activities, give appointment reminders, and help residents overcome limitations.
Communicate respectfully with residents and their families, and refer service or care concerns to a nurse or Assisted Living Director.
Promptly inform a supervisor of resident needs, unusual events, suspected abuse, and changes in condition or behavior.
Participate in planning resident service needs, share current information with appropriate supervisors, attend planning meetings, and use person-centered service plans.
Change bed linens weekly or as needed, make beds according to resident preferences, and assist with laundry according to schedule and protocol.
Make rounds on assigned residents within 30 minutes of coming on duty and offer assistance to residents approximately every two hours, including residents with sitters.
Clean resident refrigerators and freezers as needed; wash, dry, and store resident dishes, glassware, and silverware or return them to the kitchen.
Monitor the dining room at meals, assist with menus and drinks, report changes in eating or drinking habits, observe for swallowing problems, provide emergency assistance, and report concerns to a nurse.
Take and deliver room-service meal orders, complete charge slips, and pick up trays in a timely manner.
Assist with self-administration of medications according to policy, report medication issues to a nurse, and notify a nurse or AL Manager when a resident needs help reordering medications.
Complete required documentation concerning medication assistance, baths, communications, and identified resident problems or needs.
Wear and respond promptly to a two-way radio and pager during the shift, and place the radio on its charger when not in use.
Answer resident calls promptly and request coworker assistance if unable to respond within five minutes.
Follow infection-control guidelines, including Universal Precautions; protect residents’ rights, dignity, privacy, and confidential information.
Follow the dress code, wear a name tag, keep the work area clean, and comply with workplace policies, including restrictions on food, drink, and cell-phone use while on duty.
Attend required dementia training and at least 12 hours of annual in-service training, including ADLs and IADLs.