Job Description

Benefits We Offer for PRN & Per-Visit Opportunities:

* 401K Retirement Plan

Position Description

The Hospice Aide is a non-professional employee trained to provide personal care and related services in the home for the sick or disabled. He/she functions under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse or a Physical Therapist to assist the patient to perform on 2 or more ADL's.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

During each, visit the Hospice Aide:

* Shall obtain vital signs, record and notify the primary RN of deviations according to standard practice
* The Hospice Aide shall provide assistance with at least 2 of the following ADL's:
* Personal hygiene (Example: bathing, grooming, hair care, shaving, deodorant application, skin care with lotions and/or powder, foot care, and ear care.
* Q-tips are not to be used;
* Nail care and oral hygiene, which are needed to facilitate treatment or prevent deterioration (nail cutting will NOT be done; and filing will NOT be done, if patient is diabetic);
* Changing bed linens and making bed;
* Eating and maintaining adequate nutrition and fluid intake when appropriate;
* Dressing (clothes);
* Ambulation and transfers (For Example: Assisting patients to the toilet/commode or with bedpans and with elimination needs, assisting patients in and out of bed, assisting with ambulation, and assisting with other transfers and positional needs as appropriate);
* Incidental household services, which are essential to patient health care (for example, light housekeeping, straightening room, and laundry);
* Assisting with prescribed exercises, which the hospice aide and the patient have been taught by a health professional agent (employee) of the Agency;
* May hand patient prepared medications
* May empty or change a colostomy bag after receiving direction from RN
* Will understand and apply basic infection control principles and procedures
* Will contact supervisor with any concerns related to infection control
* Will follow the Plan of Care (Instruction Sheet) as instructed by Agency's health care professional
* Will document appropriately according to the Plan of Care and submit all documentation per agency policy
* Will keep a record of hospice aide Plan of Care for each patient assigned
* Will observe physical and gross behavioral changes in the patient's condition or family situation and report to the registered nurse
* Will follow the visit schedule and indicate changes in schedule as appropriate
* Will promptly contact patients and an Agency supervisor whenever unable to visit a patient as scheduled and will give full report to covering aides concerning patient care, visit times, etc. Will give patient name of covering hospice aide
* Will communicate appropriately with patient/family and Agency personnel
* Will attend required in-services and meetings as identified by the Agency (must have 12 hours of In-service per year)
* Will adhere to Agency's Policies and Procedures
* Will perform other duties as assigned
* Will participate in Performance Improvement activities as indicated

The Hospice Aide WILL NOT do the following:

* Irrigate body cavities such as giving an enema;
* Irrigate a colostomy or wound;
* Irrigate perform a gastric lavage or gavage;
* Irrigate catheterize a patient;
* Irrigate administer medications;
* Irrigate apply heat by any method;
* Irrigate care for a Tracheostomy tube;
* Irrigate cut nails;
* Irrigate file nails; if patient is diabetic, and;
* Irrigate provide any personal health service, which has not been included by the health care professional (employee) in the patient care plan

REQUIRED Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

* Current drivers license and automobile in good working condition with proof of auto insurance
* Are Certified Nurses Aides (CNA). Effective for services furnished after August 14, 1990, a person who has successfully completed a State-established or other training program that meets the federal requirements of 484.36(a) and a competency evaluation program or State licensure program that meets the federal requirements of 484.36(b), or a competency evaluation program or State licensure program that meets the federal requirements of 484.36(b). An individual is not considered to have completed a training and competency evaluation program, or a competency evaluation program if, since the individual's most recent completion of this program(s), there has been a continuous period of twenty four (24) consecutive months during none of which the individual furnished services described in 409.40 of the federal regulations for compensation.
* Is able to meet certain physical demands of standing, bending, lifting, stooping or performing other work requiring light physical exertion (up to 30 pounds) on a continuous basis (over 50% of time); or moderate physical exertion (30 to 50 pounds) on a frequent basis (16 to 50% of time); or heavy physical exertion on an occasional basis (up to 15% of time).
* A Hospice Aide may be used by the agency providing licensed hospice services if the aide meets one of the following requirements:
* A minimum of one year full-time experience in direct client care in an institutional setting (hospital or nursing facility);
* One year full-time experience within the last five years in direct client care in an agency setting;
* Satisfactorily completed a training and competency evaluation program that complies with the requirements of this section;
* Satisfactorily completed a competency evaluation program that complies with the requirements of this section;
* Submitted to the agency documentation from the director of programs or the dean of a school of nursing that states that the individual is a nursing student who has demonstrated competency in providing basic nursing skills in accordance with the schools curriculum; or
* A Hospice Aide must have provided hospice services within the previous 24 months to qualify under subsection (a)(3) or (4) of this section
* Agree to undergo supplemental training by Agency personnel, as may be required by the Agency
* Have completed the 9th grade, with ability to read and write at an adequate level. High school graduates or GED preferred
* Have an interest in and a sympathetic attitude toward caring for the sick at home.
* Have the emotional maturity necessary for establishing and maintaining a good rapport with patient and family members
* Demonstrate the ability to be able to work within a multi-disciplinary team setting
* Demonstrate the ability to work in field situations and navigate within assigned districts
* Have and maintain an automobile to be used for work
* Have the ability to meet the physical demands of the job
* Have satisfactorily passed Agency pre-employment testing which will include a written and performance evaluation
* Must inform all employees and cooperate and coordinate to assure highest performance of quality when providing services to the beneficiary
* Is prohibited from simultaneous/concurrent employment