Home Health Aide - Hospice

Job Summary

This position is responsible for performing personal care and household delegated tasks for home health/hospice patients and providing limited nursing care and therapy services to the patients under the clinical supervision of a registered nurse and may receive guidance from a physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech therapist as outlined in the Home Health Aide Care Plan.

Responsibilities

• Perform patient care duties/tasks as outlined on the patient specific home health/hospice care plan.
• Perform basic technical skills which may include: CPR; taking and recording vital signs; change non-sterile dressings; measuring and recording fluid intake/output; assist patient with taking oral medications as directed by the physician or nurse.
• Assist patient with personal care which may including: bathing; mouth and skin care; grooming and dressing; assistance with bed pans and/or urinals; eating and hydration.
• Provide patients with help walking, exercising and moving in and out of bed. May assist with use of special equipment (i.e. walker, wheelchair, cane).
• Assist with meal preparations and/or feeding, change bed linen and perform light housekeeping when outlined on the patient's care plan.
• Provide accurate, legible and timely clinical documentation in compliance with regulatory, quality and Agency guidelines.
• Takes prompt action in response to changes in patient's health condition and notifies registered nurse/ therapist case manager and/or Patient Care Manager in a timely manner.
• Provides services to a generally adult patient/caregiver population; and given area of clinical specialty, skills and training, may also provide services to pediatric population.
• Effectively communicates with patients, caregivers, RN/therapist case manager, Patient Care Manager and other members of the inter/multidisciplinary team to assure an appropriate, quality and smooth flow of are/services for the patient through the care continuum.
• For incorporation into the home care/hospice record, provides accurate, legible and timely clinical documentation in compliance with regulatory, quality and Agency guidelines.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent (Preferred)
• Minimum of 2 years CNA and/or Home Health Aide experience in a nursing home, hospital or home care setting (Required)
• Home Health experience (Preferred)

Credentials

• Certified Nurse Assistant - Washington (Required)
• Driver's License and proof of auto insurance (Required)
• Basic Life Support (Required upon hire)
• Food Handler's card (Required)

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to apply age specific principles of growth and development and life stages to meet each patient's needs (Required)
• Ability to care for patients in a wide variety of environments (Required)
• Cooperative working skills, leadership skills, interpersonal skills, and communication skills (Required)
• Organized, flexible and able to function independently (Required)
• Basic computer and keyboarding skills (Required)

Working Conditions

• Lifting Patient handling no greater than 35 lbs. without the use of assistive equipment and/or devices (NIOSH).
• Fine motor skills to be able to grasp and control medical equipment and perform precise procedures.
• Push/Pull: Frequently up to 45 lbs. force (i.e., WOW, medical carts).
• Perform hands on CPR at least 20 mins using 100-125 lbs. of force (National Assoc. of EMS Physicians and AHA) Frequency should be seldom or occasionally.
• Ability to move around area with frequent sitting.
• Bending/ stooping/ squatting/ reaching/ kneeling frequently.
• Lifting (non-patient) up to 20 lbs. occasionally and 5 lbs. frequently.

Environmental Conditions

• Exposure to biohazard, body fluids and airborne particles.
• Must be able to complete tasks in a noisy environment.

Mental/Visual

• Vision and hearing required within normal limits (glasses, contacts, hearing aids permitted).
• Ability to communicate and exchange accurate information.