Home Hospice CNA I or CNA II – FirstHealth of the Carolinas

Overview

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in home hospice primarily provides personal care to patients with life-limiting illnesses, including assisting with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, eating, mobility support, turning and repositioning in bed, monitoring vital signs, maintaining a clean environment, and offering emotional support, all while closely observing and reporting any changes in the patient’s condition to the hospice nurse

8:00am – 4:30pm various days (M-F)

Personal Hygiene

Key responsibilities of a hospice CNA:

Bathing, oral hygiene, hair care, nail care, incontinence care

Mobility Assistance

Helping patients transfer to chairs or beds, assisting with walking, using assistive devices

Comfort Measures

Providing skin care, positioning to prevent pressure sores, offering comfort items

Meal Assistance

Helping with meal preparation, feeding patients, monitoring intake

Light Housekeeping

Keeping the patient’s immediate environment clean, changing linens

Observation And Reporting

Monitoring vital signs, noting changes in patient condition, communicating concerns to the hospice nurse

Emotional Support

Providing companionship, listening to patients and families, offering emotional comfort

Patient-centered Care

Important points to remember about a hospice CNA role:

Tailoring care to individual patient needs and preferences

Collaboration With The Hospice Team

Working closely with nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals

Respectful Communication

Maintaining sensitive and compassionate communication with patients and families during a difficult time

Responsibilities

Working conditions:

Physical/Environmental: Ability to access patient in entire patient service area and transport supplies. Demonstrates manual dexterity, hearing acuity, and verbal ability. Displays ability for walking, lifting, bending, and stooping. Involves exposure to blood/body fluids, hazardous materials and communicable diseases.

Psychosocial: Ability to deal with frustration and stress appropriately. Ability to provide emotional support to terminally ill patients and their families.

Age Groups Served

Infant/Neonate, Toddler, Preschool, School-age, Adolescent, Young Adult, Middle Adult, Older Adult

Position Specific Competencies

In addition to the following essential position competencies, other competencies may be required to meet the changing organizational needs:

• Uses an appropriate problem-solving approach to plan performance of service.
• Organizes assignment in a manner, which is time effective (ex. patient location).
• Obtains information needed to perform assigned duties.
• Provides Nurse Aide I tasks according to DHHS as directed by licensed nurse on patient guidelines for care form.
• Recognizes change in patient condition and notifies professional nurse in a timely manner.
• Provides services with consideration of the physical, psycho-social, cultural/spiritual and age

specific needs of those served.

• Satisfactorily performs all tasks as specified on the Nursing Assistant I Annual Skills Checklist.
• Completes assigned patient care as directed by the professional nurse.
• Adjusts care in response to requests for special patient/family considerations.
• Uses equipment/supplies correctly.
• Uses equipment/supplies following manufacturer’s instructions and hospice policy.
• Reports faulty equipment and removes from service.
• Uses appropriate safety and infection control measures.
• Complies with department and organization safety and infection control measures.
• Consistently uses personal protective equipment.
• Disposes of hazardous materials correctly.
• Washes hands per policy.
• Teaches/directs/advised/informs others in an appropriate manner.
• Instructs patient/family on specifics for providing care within tasks appropriate to Nurse Aide I.
• Provides pertinent information to the professional nurse in a timely manner.
• Supportive and informative to new staff members.
• Reports/records information correctly.

Prepares and records information in an appropriate manner according to hospice policy

Qualifications

Qualifications:

The following or equivalents are the minimum requirements to perform the essential functions of this position:

Education/formal Training/licensure/certification/experience

• Completion of high school or its equivalent.
• Successful completion of a NAI Program.
• Nursing Assistant I current listing with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry)
• Possess valid NC Drivers License
• Certifications Required:
• Certifications Recommended:

Additional Skills

Demonstrates clear and concise verbal and written communication skills. Ability to perform several tasks in an organized manner. Maintains clinical competencies appropriate to services provided, needs of age groups served, and scope of practice.

Website

http://www.firsthealth.org