Careers

The Home Care and Hospice Certified Nurse Aide (HCHCNA) assists the professional and technical nursing staff in the performance of standardized duties in caring for a patient in their place of residence.  The patient populace includes:  caring for the injured, ill, and end of life patient based upon the age of the individual served.  The HCHCNA administers basic procedures designed to provide total patient care and documents basic care given to the patient and the response to that care.

REPORTS TO:

Home Health Coordinator/or RN Case Manager

REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must have graduated from an approved secondary education program (high school) or have an equivalent of a high school diploma.
• Must have successfully completed a formal nurse aide program and maintains current certification.
• Must have successfully completed a state approved competency evaluation within four months of the date of hire.
• Must be able to express ideas logically.
• Must have an understanding of the Hospice philosophy.  
• Must complete an informal training regarding the Hospice philosophy provided by the social worker, Director of Home Services, or an RN Case Manager. 
• Must demonstrate personal acceptance of responsibility and accountability for self and team members.
• Must promote positive interpersonal relationships with staff members, administrators, physicians and the public.
• Must accept assignment duties within his/her knowledge, experience and educational training.
• Must maintain confidentiality concerning patient/family, staff members, administration and physicians.
• Must be CPR certified every 2 years according to the Michigan Heart Association guidelines.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours – dependent upon agency and/or client needs which can include hours outside the normal business day and can vary above or below 40 hours per week.
• Must demonstrate a daily commitment to the Standards of Behavior and Core Values of BCMH.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record. Must have and maintain vehicle insurance.
• Must have the ability to read, write and verbally report clinical information to patients, representatives, and caregivers as well as to other HHA staff.
• Must have the ability to recognize and report changes in skin condition, including pressure ulcers.

POSITION DUTIES:  ESSENTIAL

• Must be able to perform tasks involving physical activity, which may include heavy lifting and extensive bending and standing.
• Must be able to deal effectively with stressful situations.
• Maintains professional image of the company by speaking positively in front of patients, public, fellow co-workers, or to health professionals outside of Baraga County Home Care and Hospice.  Is polite and courteous.
• Must maintain dress code, wearing name tag and is clean and neat at all times.
• Demonstrates ability to maintain work standards by keeping work area clean and orderly and by resolving minor employee conflicts with others independently.
• Follows direction from the Director of Home Services and/or an RN Case Manager, understands the role of the organization and other roles in the department and responds to constructive criticism.
• Is willing to assist as necessary during busy times.
• Prioritizes and completes work timely and accurately.  Reports to work on time, observes time frame of lunches and break.
• Works evenings, weekends, and holidays according to job category requirements and keeps overtime to a minimum.
• Maintains client/family confidentiality at all times.
• Is able to locate Bill of Rights, advance directives, disaster manual, and policy and procedure manual.
• Completes all required documentation timely and correctly with minimal errors.
• Knows how to identify and report victims of abuse.
• Is aware of community resources and reports the possible need as necessary.
• Participates with alternate caregivers as indicated and participates in interdisciplinary group meeting (IDG) with appropriate disciplines.
• Completes appropriate preventative, therapeutic, and rehabilitative nursing procedures in accordance with the organization’s policies, procedures and competency standards.
• Satisfactorily performs clean techniques.
• Observes patient’s environment and reports safety concerns to the RN.  Identifies symptoms of abuse and follows reporting protocols.
• Uses Gait belt when patient requires assistance with transferring or ambulating.
• Adheres to universal precautions at all times.
• Obtains and transports supplies to the patient’s home in appropriate conditions as directed by the RN.
• Maintains nurse bag supplies and has available for use during the visit.
• Follows arrival procedures including hand hygiene, gloves for personal care, using paper barriers, approved back support and reviews assignment sheet before beginning care.
• Checks and documents vital signs.
• Verbalizes basic body function changes to be reported, signs of emergencies and emergency procedures.
• Recognizes patient’s physical and emotional needs.
• Performs comfort care; reports any observed or reported changes in the patient’s condition and/or needs to the RN Case Manager.  Follows reporting guidelines in the plan of care.   
• Performs appropriate delegated tasks or procedures only with appropriate instruction from the RN or therapist, which may include but is not limited to, dressing changes to wounds and therapy exercise regimen.
• Assists with preselected medications normally self administered and are preselected by the RN-can verbalize side effects.
• Demonstrates safely and appropriately the following:  bed bath; sponge, tub or shower bath; shampoo; nail and skin care; oral hygiene; toileting and elimination; safe transfer techniques and ambulation; ROM and positioning; verbalizes adequate nutrition/hydration intake; guides patient/family toward self help recognition and solution of identified physical, emotional, and environmental health problems.
• Household tasks are performed according to agency protocol, which may include; changing beds, cleaning equipment, maintenance/cleaning of prosthetics and orthodontics, food preparation and cleaning dishes, laundry of bed linens and patient clothing, light housekeeping and writing notes and letters and/or reading the newspaper for the patient.
• Visit record is completed as per assignment reflecting every component.  Notes are completed essentially in the home, are submitted with corresponding logs daily for local staff and 3 times per week for remote staff.  Missed visit documentation is completed per agency procedure.
• Logs are completed per agency policy and procedures and are completed daily and submitted with corresponding notes and time frames.  Logs must reflect accurate travel time, mileage, codes, patient name and record number.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of BCMH Corporate Compliance plan, Code of Conduct and reporting process of any compliance concerns.
• Shall be responsible for completing educational requirements.
• Uses only abbreviations approved for use by the agency.
• Observes all infection control and safety policies and procedures.
• Complies with all HIPAA requirements for security and confidentiality.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:  ESSENTIAL

• Balancing
• Climbing
• Crouching
• Kneeling
• Keying
• Grasping
• Lifting
• Pulling
• Pushing
• Reaching
• Standing
• Stooping
• Repetitive Motion
• Driving
• An individual in this position will be required to carry or lift weights in the range of: Up to 25 pounds occasionally, Up to 50 pounds frequently

SENSORY AND COMMUNICATIVE ACTIVITIES:  ESSENTIAL

• Feeling
• Hearing
• Seeing
• Smelling
• Speaking

ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE:

• Inside and Outside environmental conditions
• Blood borne pathogens
• Physical hazards
• Chemical hazards