POSITION:
The Certified Nurse Assistant provides nursing and nursing related services to residents consistent with each resident’s comprehensive resident assessment and plan of care. All resident care is provided in a manner that meets the resident’s physical, mental and psychosocial needs and enables the individual to attain or maintain the highest practicable level of functioning. The Certified Nurse Assistant maintains a “homelike” environment for the residents, protects and promotes resident rights and assists the person to maintain independence and control to the greatest extent possible.
REPORTING:
This position is responsible to the Director of Staff Development and/or Director of Nursing.
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Provide direct care to residents to improve or maintain the resident’s abilities according to the resident’s plan of care
- Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) – Assist with bathing, grooming, oral care, dressing, mobility, transferring, and feeding of assigned residents by providing set-up assistance, verbal prompts, physical support or more extensive assistance, or who are totally dependent as more fully described below:
- Bathing- Assist with transport of resident to tub or shower; Adjust water temperature; Wash and rinse resident. Dry body thoroughly with clean towels. Maintain privacy for resident at all times
- Dressing- Locate, select and obtain clothing for resident. Assist residents with snaps, zippers, buttons after donning clothes or removing them. Recognize clothing in need of repair and communicate clothing needs to resident and Charge Nurse
- Restorative Care- Assist the resident to maintain functioning at his/her highest independent level to prevent decrease in functioning unless clinically unavoidable through ambulation, range of motion exercises, use of assistive devices and maintaining proper body alignment to prevent contractures and deformities
- Elimination/Toileting- Promptly assist residents to bathroom according to toileting schedule or, promptly bring clean bedpan or urinal. Open, remove clothing in preparation, clean residents if resident is unable to clean self, adjust clothing, clean residents and own hands. Measure and record output as directed by Charge Nurse and plan of care. Provide catheter care according to facility procedure and infection control policies
- Mobility- Assist residents or provide range of motion exercises to all joints. Provide weight-bearing assistance or physical support for ambulating. Push wheel chair or geri-chair if needed. Maintain safe environment for mobile resident by removing obstacles, inspecting equipment and reporting defects to Charge Nurse. Monitor resident progress toward treatment goals and report responses to Charge Nurse.
- Transfer- Position residents for transfer. Use correct transfer technique and equipment according to plan of care, resident ability and self-ability. Obtain assistance of another staff member if needed before starting to transfer a resident
- Eating- Provide set-up assistance for meal tray. Open, pour, unwrap, and cut food if residents unable to help self. Feed individuals that require total assistance according to their plans of care. Actively encourage residents to chew, eat, and swallow if indicated. Assist or clean residents after meals. Serve nourishments and snacks as ordered. Document and report food and fluid intake accordingly
- Provide care in a manner that protects and promotes resident rights, dignity, self-determination and active participation. Offer and respect resident choices in matters of daily routine. Refer to residents by proper names unless resident requests otherwise. Avoid use of all pet names. Handle all residents’ property with respect
- Observe and report patterns of decreased social interaction, angry or sad behaviors and refusals of treatment to Unit Charge Nurse
- Assist with the planning, implementation and evaluation of plans of care for assigned residents and report information about conditions, responses to interventions and suggestions for alternative approaches to the Unit
- Charge Nurse
- Assist with preparation for state inspections as directed. Attend survey training and interact with state surveyors as directed by immediate supervisor
- Follow all facility policies and procedures including those related to infection control. Use personal protective equipment properly whenever indicated
- Record accurate, legible information about resident care and condition in appropriate sections of resident’s records
- Communicate with Charge Nurse about assigned residents regularly throughout shift
- Demonstrate competence in use of proper body mechanics for both upper and lower body. Safely and correctly use equipment such as back belts, gait belts and mechanical lifting equipment for lifting, pulling and turning residents who may range in weight from less than 80 pounds to over 300 pounds
- Monitor physical environment for safety or fire hazards and correct or report potential problems immediately to
- Charge Nurse. Promptly report housekeeping and maintenance problems to Charge Nurse
- Report injury to resident or self to Charge Nurse immediately
- Attend 12 hours of in-service education provided by the facility annually. Apply information to job tasks
- Participate in fire and disaster drills. In the event of an emergency, carry out assigned duties to assure resident safety
JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Demonstrate knowledge of, and respect for, the rights, dignity and individuality of each resident in all interactions
- Appreciate the importance of maintaining confidentiality of resident and facility information
- Demonstrate honesty and integrity at all times in the care and use of resident and facility property
- Able to understand and follow written and verbal directions. Able effectively to communicate with staff members and residents through verbal and/or written means
- Able to interact effectively with individuals who are cognitively and/or physically impaired
- Knowledge of emergency and disaster procedures of facility. Able to locate nearest exit, to understand and respond to written or oral instruction in case of emergency
- Sufficient mobility, and strength to move freely through the building, to assure resident safety at all times and to assist, transfer or otherwise move residents of facility out of danger in case of emergency
- Demonstrate respect for co-workers and responds to needs of residents by complying with facility policies on attendance and punctuality and dress code. Able to arrive and to begin work on time
- Working knowledge and ability to comply with facility policies and procedures for workplace safety including infection control procedures, application of standard precautions for blood borne pathogens, use of personal protective equipment and handling of hazardous materials
- Demonstrate ability to prioritize tasks/responsibilities and complete duties/projects within allotted time
- Able to respond to change productively and to handle additional tasks/projects as assigned
- Able to carry out the essential functions of this job (with or without reasonable accommodation) without posing specific, current risk of substantial harm to health and safety of self and others
- Demonstrate competence in performing all services required of a nursing assistant including providing nursing and nursing-related services to individuals with cognitive impairments
- Able to recognize changes in resident’s conditions as evidenced by physical symptoms, verbal expression or observation of change in mental or psychosocial status
- Other duties as assigned
PHYSICAL CAPACITIES: (With or without Mechanical devices)
- Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
- Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which includes an annual TB screening and physical examination.
- Must be able to lift a minimum of 25 pounds.
- Must be able to lift up and over 100 pounds with assistance according to resident’s abilities.
- Must be able to move intermittently during working hours.
- Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time.
- Must be able to bend, squat, push, stoop and pull as needed especially in fulfilling resident care activities.
- Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
Inside work, normal temperatures, some noise, occasional fumes/odors, chemical exposure and potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24 hour skilled care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and cognitively impaired residents in an aging population. Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to: emergency health or safety response, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in a nursing home, death and dying, oversight of state surveyors, ombudsmen and federal officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff.
QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:
Education:
Sufficient education to demonstrate functional literacy
License:
Current CNA certification issued by the local Department of Health Services or proof of successful completion of an approved OBRA certification program from another state to submit for certification. No findings in the State Nurse Aide Registry concerning physical, mental and/or verbal abuse, neglect, mistreatment of residents or misappropriation of resident’s property. (The state registry must be the state issuing the certification).
Work Experience: Prior experience giving personal care to impaired individuals in a health care setting preferred.
Language Skills:
- Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical information, and to be easily understood through verbal communication in the English language.
Mathematical Skills:
- Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
- Ability to perform these operations using units of weight measurement, and volume.
Communication Skills:
- Must have exceptional communication and customer service skills, and be empathetic.
- Ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, responsible parties, staff and outside resources and agencies.
