Home Health Aide

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Assists patients with activities of daily living, provides basic nursing care to patients, and assists in maintenance of a safe and clean environment under the direction and supervision of the Registered Nurse in charge of the team.

This is a full-time position working 72 hours per pay period. Hours are Monday - Friday from 8:00am - 4:30pm, with no weekends or holidays. 

JOB FUNCTIONS

• Provides personal cares which may include tub, shower or bed bath; oral hygiene; shampoo, comb and set hair; dressing and grooming; changing bed linen, shaving; skin care and nail care.
• Performs routine treatment procedures such as: positioning patients, lifting and turning patients, applying/utilizing special equipment; assisting in use of bedpan, urinal or commode; ambulating the patient, follows Physical Therapy exercise program, application of anti-embolism stockings, transfers bed/chair.
• Performs household duties such as: meal preparation, purchase of groceries, medication and/or supplies in emergency situations as necessary.
• Performs general care activities for patients in isolation.
• Assists staff nurse in complicated treatment procedures.
• Takes and records temperature, pulse, respiration, weight, height, blood pressure and intake/output measurements.
• Assists in maintaining a healthy, clean and safe environment for the patients and staff; responsible for safe handling of equipment assigned to patient care.
• Reports (and when appropriate, records) any changes observed in condition or behavior of patients and unusual incidents.
• Participates in and contributes to Nursing Care Plans.
• Establishes and maintains interpersonal relationships with patients, visitors and other hospital personnel, while assuring confidentiality of patient information.
• Attends inservice/education programs, as assigned, to learn new treatments, procedures, developmental skills, etc.
• Practices careful, efficient and non-wasteful use of supplies and linen, and follows established charge procedure for patient charge items.
• Files patient information on charts as directed by Patient Accounts Coordinator or staff.
• Complies new charts.
• Performs charting of confidential medical reports and data on medical record.
• Using established criteria checklists, audits discharged chart for completeness.
• Monitors usage of DME.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION:

1. Preparation and Training - High school level of knowledge preferred in order to understand and follow written and oral instructions and to deal effectively with other people. Must successfully complete certification test at testing site, or have completed course work in a nursing or vocational program to satisfy requirements for placement on the ND Department of Health Nurse Assistant and Home Health Aide registry. Will also successfully pass skills test as administered by experienced professional Home Health staff members.
2. Position - requires completion of BLS CPR. Position is required to attend Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training in the appropriate timeframe according to department orientation checklist.
3. Work Experience - Previous work experience in past 3 years required. Preference for a minimum of six months experience as a nursing aide in acute care or long-term care health facility or for completion of Health Aide Program through Vocational Education or approved nursing aide training program.
4. Attendance - Punctual and regular attendance is an essential responsibility of each employee at JRMC. Employees are expected to report to work as scheduled, on time and prepared to start working. Employees are also expected to remain at work for their entire work schedule. 
5. Analytical Ability - Analysis involves comparison between numbers, letters and includes making routine clinical observations.
6. Independent Judgement - Works in accordance with standard nursing practices; non-routine problems are referred to primary nurse. Must be able to assess changes in patient's condition and notify primary nurse.
7. Contact with Others - Very frequent contact with others must demonstrate social sensitivity and the ability to communicate effectively. Aware of high degree of visibility in community, representing JRMC Home Health Agency.
8. Supervising the Work of Others - Responsible for own work. Little or no responsibility for work of others.
9. Responsibility for Welfare of Others - Has frequent contact with patients and other employees which may result in minor discomfort and delay to others.
10. Mental / Visual Effort - Occasional requirement to exert a high level of mental/visual effort. Visual acuity and color perception necessary for performing routine procedures. Must be mentally alert and display a mature attitude. Must follow all policies and procedures of JRMC Home Health Agency.
11. Working Conditions - OSHA job classification: This position is defined as a Category I in which the employee does have exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Must practice aseptic techniques and observe Standard Precautions. Participates in and complies with JRMC Safety Management program. Position requires frequent lifting, bending, walking; exposure to patients with infectious diseases, odor and unsanitary conditions within patient's residence. Exposure to elements at higher risk than usual due to extensive travel by car and working in adverse conditions in residences.
12. Promotion - No formal line of promotion
13. Physical and Sensory Effort - Required to stand, sit, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, twist, and crouch. Required to use hands to handle and feel and to speak and hear. Occasionally may have to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Requires the ability to deal effectively with stress. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception and ability to focus. Requires the ability to drive an automobile.
14. Background Check - A comprehensive background check and drug screening will be conducted as a condition of employment for this role. 
15. Drug Screen - A urine drug screening is required for all positions and must be completed within 30 days of the date of hire.
16. Other Position - requires the individual to provide a vehicle for transportation to and from home visits. Must hold a current unencumbered North Dakota Driver's license and appropriate automobile insurance.
17. Physical Requirement - These are physical requirements of the position that may be performed as part of daily duties. Inability to meet one or more of these physical requirements will not automatically disqualify a candidate or employee from the position. Upon request for reasonable accommodation, JRMC may be able to adjust or excuse one or more of these requirements, depending on the requirement, the essential functions to which it relates and the proposed accommodation.

Employee Requirements

• Visual Observation - Continuously
• Standing - Frequently
• Walking - Continuously
• Sitting - Occasionally
• Hands and Finger Dexterity - Frequently
• Reaching with Hands and Arms - Continuously 
• Climbing - Rarely
• Stooping/Kneeling/Crouching/Crawling - Continuously 
• Hearing/Listening - Continuously
• Tasting or Smelling - Frequently
• Working Inside - Continuously
• Working Outside - Never
• Working in Extreme Heat - Rarely
• Working in Extreme Cold - Rarely
• Working with Hazardous Materials - Rarely
• Noise - Frequently
• Working in Dirt/Dust - Never
• Driving - Occasionally

Lifting / Carrying / Pushing / Pulling:

• Up to 10 pounds - Occasionally
• Up to 25 pounds - Occasionally
• Up to 50 pounds - Never
• Up to 75 pounds - Never
• Up to 100 pounds - Never
• Over 100 pounds - Never