CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT

JOB SUMMARY
The Home Health Aid (HHA) is responsible for providing care and essential homemaking skills to patients and families in the Hospice Home Care Environment. Must show kindness, compassion, respect, and give thoughtful care to all patients and their families. Have the ability to get along with others. This position is hands on. Must support the Connecticut Hospices vision, mission, and operating principles.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• We provide quality, compassionate, and competent hospice and palliative care.
• We support families with their decision-making.
• We support families with participation in caring for their loved ones.
• We aid in enhancing the quality of life for all of our patients, for as long as their life lasts.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
General:

• Provides care consistent with the needs of the patient and in accordance with the Primary Care Providers plan of care. Which may include but not limited to:
  • Assisting with bathing, skin, mouth, foot, and hair care, inc.
  • Assisting with all transfer activities, ambulation.
  • Assisting while use the lavatory, use of commode, or bed pan.
  • Assisting with self-administration of oral medication.
  • Assisting with ADLs, i.e., feeding, dressing, undressing.
• Carries out exercise program as prescribed and under the director of a physical therapist and/or Primary Care Provider.
• Organize and prioritize care.
• Perform tasks with skill and efficiency to meet the individual needs of the patients personal care and treatment.
• Approach patients in kind, gentle, and respectful manner.
• Responsible for developing rapport with patients and their family.
• Ability to work with various populations, e.g.: pediatric, adult, geriatric, and various cultures.
• Promptly reports any changes in patients condition to the Primary Care Provider.
• Assists in maintaining a safe, healthful environment for the patient.
• Performs normal household services essential to health care are home, including meal preparation, laundry, and housecleaning. (Section 19-13-D69 (d) (3) of the Connecticut Public Health Code.)
• Provides adequate documentation of care in timely manner.
• Records and reports changes in patients health through proper channels and to necessary team members.
• Plan out workload and follow schedule.
• Must have ability to work every other weekend.
• Appropriately use HHA assignment and activity sheets.
• Submit accurate and complete timesheets by deadline.
• Attends/participates in case conferences, in-services, and staff meetings when appropriate.
• Utilizes supervisor in consultant capacity.
• Review problems of patients with Primary Care Nurse.
• Respect confidentiality.
• Assume responsibility for workload.
• Supports the patient and families via the philosophy of The Connecticut Hospice.

Health & Safety:

• Report and take required action regarding injuries, incidents, medical, and accidents required by policy.
• OSHA: Task that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues. Require the use of techniques of Universal Precautions as evidenced by compliance with bloodborne pathogen standards.
• Make the health, safety, protection of rights, and the development of patients and co-workers your primary responsibilities.
• Effectively manage medical and first aid emergencies.
• Follow all agency safety/medical related policies and procedures.
• Follow fire evacuation and disaster procedures correctly and in a timely manner.
• Report unsafe situations immediately; ensuring safety is imperative.
• Ensure pertinent emergency telephone numbers are readily available.
• Report symptoms and signs of communicable diseases immediately.
• Consistently use universal precautions.
• Report any incident that could potentially result in negative reactions from the community, law enforcement officers, and other agencies to the supervisor immediately.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS, and TRAININGS

• Certified Nursing Assistant training and certificate. 
• Home Health Aide training and certificate.
• One to three years-experience as a Home Health Aide.
• Provide own transportation. Must provide satisfactory proof of insurance. 
• Must possess a current, valid Connecticut Drivers license.
• Must have excellent communication skills and speak in public.
• Must pay attention to details.
• Capacity to maintain accurate records and exercise discretion in handling of confidential information.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule; including at different sites and programs as needed.  
• Ability to maintain assigned work hours. 

COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

• Computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office Word and Excel, Outlook, plus word processing and presentation software. 
• Ability to operate media equipment such as tablets, smartphones, and other electronic equipment. 
• Ability to work with general office equipment.
• Ability to work with and understand databases a must and the ability to learn technical skills.  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Shall have essential physical skills; be able to run, squat, stoop/bend, kneel, climb stairs, be able to lift at least 50 pounds (or ¼ own body weight), push/pull against potential resistance, and be able to implement non-physical and physical interventions and CPR with individuals supported when needed.
• Shall have adequate vision, reading, writing, and documentation skills, and hearing to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Must have enough endurance to perform tasks over long periods of time. 
• Will be engaged in speaking, sitting, walking, driving, listening, and in communicating both orally and in writing while performing his or her duties. 
• Must be able to listen and respond to questions and instructions.

The qualifications, physical demands, and work environment described herein are representative of those an employee will encounter and must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.
The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the variety of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the incumbent a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of his/her position. As the nature of business demands change, so, too, may the essential functions of this position.