Personal Support Assistant

About the role

Vanderbilt Health operates eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, making it the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. The organization provides world-class care across the Mid-South, advancing medicine through patient care, education, and research. The Personal Support Assistant (PSA) provides hands‑on, non‑medical care to adults in their homes, supporting activities of daily living (ADLs) and select health‑related tasks permitted under agency policy. PSAs work independently in the home, follow individualized care plans, and collaborate with supervisors to ensure high‑quality, coordinated care.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands‑on ADL support including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, incontinence care, and safe meal assistance for adults requiring physical support.
• Perform limited health‑related tasks such as cueing for medication routines, supporting simple mobility exercises, and assisting with safe transfers using agency‑approved techniques.
• Independently deliver in‑home care following the patient’s service plan and adapt tasks as needed to maintain safety while remaining within PSA scope.
• Observe and report meaningful changes in patient condition, behavior, functional status, or home environment to the assigned supervisor in a timely and accurate manner.
• Implement safety and risk‑reduction practices such as fall‑prevention strategies, proper body mechanics, and techniques for supporting adults with decreased mobility.
• Maintain accurate service documentation according to agency standards and state requirements, ensuring real‑time or same‑day completion of visit records.

Requirements

• Successful completion of the agency’s internal PSA licensure program.
• Less than 1 year of relevant work experience.
• High School Diploma or GED.

Skills

• Patient Care – Advanced Support (Intermediate): proficiency in hands‑on ADL care and mobility assistance for adults with varying levels of physical dependence.
• Safety & Risk Management (Intermediate): applies safe transfer techniques, environmental safety checks, and fall‑prevention strategies in the home setting.
• Observation & Condition Reporting (Intermediate): identifies and communicates meaningful changes in physical, behavioral, or functional status to the supervisor promptly and clearly.
• Care Plan Implementation (Foundational – Intermediate): follows structured care plans accurately and prioritizes tasks independently while remaining within the PSA scope.
• Professional Communication (Foundational – Intermediate): maintains respectful, patient‑centered communication with patients, families, and supervisors, including documentation that meets agency standards.

Benefits

• Health coverage
• Disability coverage
• Retirement plans
• Wellness offerings