Certified Nursing Assistant

About the role

Perform direct resident care duties under the supervision of licensed nursing personnel. Assist with promoting a compassionate physical and psychosocial environment for the residents.

Responsibilities

• Provide personal care (e.g., grooming, bathing, dressing, oral care) of residents daily and as needed.
• Change bed linen and maintain appropriate grooming supplies in resident rooms on a regular basis.
• Ambulate and transfer residents, utilizing appropriate assistive devices and body mechanics.
• Record resident vital signs, weights and measurements, intake and output, food consumption, and other information as assigned.
• Routinely turn and position residents as necessary.
• Observe residents carefully and report changes in condition to the Charge Nurse.
• Recognize a resident’s ability to make choices and support these within the constraints of the caregiving environment.
• Participate in collecting data needed for the accurate completion of the MDS and the plan of care; provide input to nurses for development of the plan of care.
• Provide adequate hydration to residents at regular intervals each day according to specific resident needs.
• Prepare residents for each meal and transport to the dining room (unless resident is on bed rest), ensuring food trays are accessible, self-help devices are available (if needed), and assistance is provided to residents who cannot feed themselves.
• Keep an accurate record of food intake and output as directed.
• Assist nursing staff with the basics of aseptic and sterile techniques to avoid infection of residents and self-contamination of equipment and supplies.
• Monitor proper ventilation, temperature, light, and noise control.
• Take temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and weight of residents as directed.
• Promptly answer call lights and other resident needs.
• Utilize proper body mechanics when lifting or transporting residents.
• Assist in the orientation and training of other staff, as requested.
• Attend in-service education programs to meet facility educational requirements.
• Be familiar with Standard Precautions, Exposure Control Plan, Fire Drill and Evacuation Procedures, and know how to use the information.
• Maintain confidentiality of resident and facility records/information.
• Protect residents from neglect, mistreatment, and abuse; protect the personal property of the residents.
• Maintain established housekeeping standards within assigned duty areas.
• Perform other duties as directed by the supervisor or administrator.

Requirements

• Current Nursing Assistant Certification from the state.
• Maintain CPR Certification.
• High School Graduate or GED.

Working Conditions

• Subject to frustrations in meeting work demands due to frequent interruptions.
• Fast-paced environment requiring quick decision-making.
• Interaction with residents, personnel, visitors, and government agencies under all conditions.
• May work beyond normal duty hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily when necessary.
• Subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster).
• Subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions (including TB, AIDS, and Hepatitis B viruses).
• May be subject to handling and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Physical and Sensory Requirements

• Assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.
• Work independently with flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Meet general health requirements set forth by facility policies, which may include a medical and physical examination.
• Sitting: 10–25% (alternates frequently to walking).
• Walking: 60–85% (alternates frequently to standing and occasionally to sitting).
• Standing: 10–30% (alternates frequently to walking and occasionally to sitting).
• Lifting:
  • 1–10 lbs: Constantly (resident personal items, linens, medical supplies, etc.).
  • 11–20 lbs: Constantly (resident personal items, linens, medical supplies, etc.).
  • 21–35 lbs: Frequently (assistance to residents in ambulation, equipment).
  • 36–50 lbs: Occasionally (transfer of resident, ambulation of residents, and equipment).
  • 51–75 lbs: None (transferring of residents).
  • 75+ lbs: None (emergency situations).
• Carrying:
  • 1–10 lbs: Constantly (resident personal items, linens, medical supplies, etc.).
  • 11–20 lbs: Frequently (resident personal items, linens, medical supplies, etc.).
  • 21–35 lbs: Occasionally (resident personal items, linens, medical supplies, etc.).
• Bending: Constant.
• Squatting: Constant.
• Kneeling: Constant.
• Climbing: Occasionally.
• Reaching: Constant.
• Grasping: Constant.
• Fine Manipulation: Continuously.
• Driving: Rarely.
• Pushing: Frequently.
• Pulling: Frequently.

Exposure Determination

This job does not normally involve contact with blood and/or body fluids, but performing associated tasks may require exposure to blood or body fluids.