Certified Nursing Assistant/ Hospice Aide

I. General Summary

A qualified person who provides direct patient care and/or housekeeping duties in the home or homelike setting under the direct supervision of a registered nurse.

II. Mission Statement

This facility is operated by Allegiance Healthcare Hospice and Palliative Care. Our Mission is to provide the highest standard of care to our patients and the entire community that surrounds each patient. We strive to holistically meet their spiritual, social and clinical needs in the most peaceful, dignified and comforting manner possible.

III. ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

The Hospice Aide shall provide services established and delegated in the POC, record and notify the primary registered nurse of deviations according to standard practice including, but not limited to the following:

• Perform simple one-step wound care if documentation of in-service for that specific procedure in the aide’s personnel record. All procedures performed by the aide must be in compliance with current standards of nursing practice.
• Provide assistance with mobility, transferring, walking, grooming, bathing, dressing or undressing, eating, toileting, and/or housekeeping needs. Some examples of assistance include:
• Helping the patient with a bath, care of the mouth, skin and hair
• Helping the patient to the bathroom or in using a bed pan or urinal
• Helping the patient to dress and/or undress
• Helping the patient in and out of bed, assisting with ambulation
• Helping the patient with prescribed exercises which the patient and hospice aide have been taught by appropriate personnel
• Performing such incidental household services essential to the patient’s health care at home that are necessary to prevent or postpone institutionalization
• Provide nutritional support
• Reporting changes in the patient’s condition and needs to a registered nurse
• Provide other related supported tasks as specified by organizational policy.
• Complete a clinical note for each visit, which must be incorporated into the record at least on a weekly basis
• Obtain vital signs and report abnormal values to Registered Nurse

Restrictions: The Hospice Aide shall NOT:

• Perform any intravenous procedures, procedures involving the use of Levine tubes or Foley catheters, or any other sterile or invasive procedures, other than rectal temperatures or enemas
• Administer medications to any patient

IV. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Have current nursing assistant certification and have successfully completed a Hospice Aide competency evaluation; or,
• Have successfully completed a Hospice Aide training program and have successfully completed a competency evaluation, or,
• Have successfully completed a Hospice Aide competency evaluation; and
• Exhibit maturity, a sympathetic attitude toward the patient, ability to provide care to the terminal patient, and ability to deal effectively with the demands of the job
• Have the ability to read, write, and carry out directions promptly and accurately; and
• When employed by more than one agency, inform all employers and coordinate duties to assure highest quality when providing services to the patients
• Competency shall be evaluated by an RN prior to hospice aide performing patient care
• Shall not have a finding of abuse, neglect or misappropriation placed against him/her on the Louisiana direct service worker (DSW) registry or the Louisiana Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) registry.

Note: The Hospice Aide competency evaluation is to be completed by a registered nurse prior to the Hospice Aide being assigned to provide patient care.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

• Has not been excluded from participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs.
• Maintains eligibility to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs throughout employment.
• Capable of providing emergency care as needed for any patient.
• Maintains a neat, well groomed appearance at all times. Keeps personal appearance appropriate for patient care.
• Ability and willingness to participate appropriately in a disaster or evacuation situation.
• Participate in pre-employment and annual Tuberculosis screening.

MENTAL DEMANDS

• Concentration/Attentiveness
• Independent Judgment and Discretion
• Read and comprehend instructions/work orders

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Use the percentages range as follows:

• 0% Never
• 1-33% Occasional
• 34-66% Frequent
• 67-100% Continuous

Requires full range of body motion including:

• Standing/walking: Frequently. Worker will be spending