Home Health CNA- East Valley

FUNCTION  The Certified Nursing Assistant is an employee, trained to provide personal care and services to the terminally ill to augment that care given by family members. She/he functions under the direction, instruction and supervision of the Nurse and/or the Nurse Supervisor.  JOB RESPONSIBILITIES  Performs only those personal care activities contained in a written assignment which may include: Helping the patient to maintain good personal hygiene.  Assisting in maintaining a safe and healthy environment.  Planning and preparing nutritious meals. Grocery shopping when instructed to do so by the nurse. Assisting in feeding patient when needed. Assisting in measuring and preparing special diets as ordered by the physician, and taught and supervised by the nurse for a specific patient.  Assisting the patient in ambulation. Assisting with the use of a walker or wheelchair as taught and supervised by the nurse for a specific patient.  Assisting with certain treatments as ordered by the physician and taught and supervised by the nurse for a specific patient including assisting with the change of the colostomy bag, reinforcement of a dressing, assisting with prescribed ice cap or collar, doing simple urine tests for sugar, acetone or albumen, measuring intake and output, and may assist with medications that are ordinarily self-administered.  Assisting with prescribed range of motion exercises which the Certified Home Health Aide and patient have been taught by the nurse or the physical therapist.  Encouraging the patient to become as independent as possible according to the interdisciplinary care plan.  Attempting to promote patient's mental alertness through involvement in activities of interest.  OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES  Gives simple emotional and psychological support to the patient and other members of the household.  Reports any change in the patient's mental or physical condition or home situation to the Renaissance Hospice Nurse and members of the interdisciplinary team.  Teaches basic care to the primary caregiver.  Practices infection control measures per OSHA standards.  Reads and records temperature, pulse and respiration.  Keeps accurate records of patient's health care activities on interdisciplinary charts.  Evaluates patient/family needs and assists in the preparation and execution of the interdisciplinary plan of care.  Completes a minimum of 12 hours of in-services per year.  Participates in at least one Quality Improvement activity yearly.  THE HOME HEALTH AIDE MAY NOT:  Change sterile dressings.  Irrigate body cavities (such as an enema).  Irrigate a colostomy or wound,  Perform a gastric lavage or gavage.  Catheterize a patient.  Administer medications except those that are self-administered,  Apply heat by any method.  Care for a tracheotomy tube.  Suction a patient.  Do any personal health service which has not been included in the patient care plan by the Nurse.  DIRECTION RECEIVED  Reports directly to the Sunrise Health Services Nurse and/or the Sunrise Health Services Nurse Supervisor.  Receives clinical direction from the patient's primary nurse.  QUALIFICATIONS  High School graduate or equivalent preferred.  Proof of state certification, if applicable.  One-year direct patient care experience in an institutional setting.  SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS  Ability to travel per job requirements.  Telephone available in home.