Job Descriptions For Winning Wheels

Nursing Assistant

PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB POSITION

The primary purpose of your job position is to provide your assigned residents with routine daily nursing care in accordance with our established nursing care procedures, and as may be directed by your supervisors.

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

As a Certified Nursing Assistant you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

JOB FUNCTIONS

Every effort has been made to keep your job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position.

RISK EXPOSURE CATEGORIES:

1 = Tasks may involve exposure to blood/body fluids.
2 = Tasks do not involve contact with blood/body fluids but could result in performing a Category I task.
3 = Tasks do not involve any risk of exposure to blood/body fluids.

ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS:

Record all entries on flow sheets, notes, charts, etc., in an informative and descriptive manner. 3 Report all accidents and incidents you observe on the shift that they occur. 3 Use only authorized abbreviations established by this facility when recording information. 3 Report all changes in the resident's condition to the Staff Nurse as soon as practical. 3

ADMISSION, TRANSFER, AND DISCHARGE FUNCTIONS:

  • Ensure that the resident's room is ready for receiving the resident (i.e., bed made, appliances available, safety devices activated, etc.). 3
  • Greet and escort residents to their room. 2
  • Introduce residents to his/her roommate, if any, and other residents and personnel as appropriate. 3
  • Make resident comfortable (i.e., put to bed, get water, etc.). 2
  • Inventory and mark the resident's personal possessions as instructed. 3
  • Store resident's clothing. 3
  • Assist residents with packing their personal possessions when they are being transferred to a new room, or when being discharged. Assure all possessions are marked in accordance with facility policy. 3
  • Transport residents to new rooms or to the receiving area. 3
  • Assist residents with loading/unloading as necessary. 3

PERSONNEL FUNCTIONS:

  • Follow work assignments, and/or work schedules in completing and performing your assigned tasks. 3
  • Perform all assigned tasks in accordance with our established policies and procedures, and as instructed by your supervisors. 3
  • Notify the facility when you will be late or absent from work per policy. 3
  • Report all complaints and grievances made by the resident. 3
  • Cooperate with inter-departmental personnel, as well as other facility personnel to assure that nursing services can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the residents. 3
  • Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift. 3
  • Meet with your shift's nursing personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services. 3

PERSONAL NURSING CARE FUNCTIONS:

  • Participate in and receive the nursing report upon reporting for duty as necessary.3
  • Assist residents with daily dental and mouth care (i.e., brushing teeth/dentures, oral hygiene, special mouth care, etc.). 1
  • Assist residents with bath functions (i.e., bedbath, tub or shower bath, etc.) as directed. 1 Give backrubs as instructed. 2
  • Assist residents with dressing/undressing as necessary. 2
  • Assist residents with hair care functions (i.e., combing, brushing, shampooing, etc.). 2
  • Assist residents with nail care (i.e., clipping, trimming, and cleaning the finger/toenails.). (NOTE: Does not include diabetic residents). 2
  • Shave male residents. 1
  • Keep hair on female residents clean shaven (i.e., facial hair, under arms, etc. as instructed). 1
  • Keep residents dry (i.e., change gown, clothing, linen, etc., when it becomes wet or soiled.). 2
  • Make beds (occupied and unoccupied). 2
  • Position bedfast residents in correct and comfortable position. 2
  • Change bed linens. Keep linens tight to avoid wrinkles from forming under the resident. 3
  • Put extra covers on beds as requested. 3
  • Assist resident with bowel and bladder functions (i.e. take to bathroom, offer bedpan/urinal, portable commode, etc.). 2
  • Maintain intake and output records as instructed. 3
  • Keep incontinent residents clean and dry. 2
  • Check and report bowel movements and character of stools as instructed. 1
  • Check residents routinely to assure that their personal care needs are being met. 2
  • Assist residents in preparing for their activities and social programs (i.e., church services, parties, visitors, etc.). 2
  • Follow established policies concerning exposure to blood/body fluids. 2
  • Assist in transporting residents to/from appointments, activity and social programs, etc. as necessary. 2
  • Assist with lifting, turning, moving, positioning, and transporting residents into and out of beds, chairs, wheelchairs, lifts, etc. 2
  • Answer resident calls promptly. 2
  • Assist residents to walk with or without self-help devices as instructed. 2
  • Perform restorative and rehabilitative procedures as instructed. 1
  • Provide routine eye and ear care (i.e. cleaning eyeglasses/hearing aides, etc.) as instructed. 1
  • Measure and record temperatures, pulse, and respirations (TPR's) as instructed. 2
  • Weigh and measure residents as instructed. 2
  • Assist with the application of icepacks as directed. 2

SPECIAL NURSING CARE FUNCTIONS:

  • Report the presence of pressure areas and skin breakdown immediately to the charge nurse to prevent pressure sores. 1
  • Provide daily indwelling catheter care. 1
  • Provide daily perineal care. 1
  • Assist with the application of slings, binders, etc. 2
  • Give tepid sponge baths. 2
  • Provide daily Range of Motion Exercises. Record data as instructed. 2
  • Turn bedfast resident's at least every two (2) hours or prn. 2
  • Observe disoriented residents. Record and report data as instructed. 2
  • Watch for and report any change in room temperature, ventilation, lighting, etc. 3
  • Turn all medications found in the resident's room/possession over to the Staff Nurse. 3
  • Provide residents with Reality Orientation as instructed. 3

FOOD SERVICE FUNCTIONS:

  • Prepare residents for meals (i.e., take to bathroom, wash hands, comb hair, position bed, position tables, place bibs, take to/from dining room, etc.). 2
  • Serve food trays. Assist with feeding as indicated (i.e., cutting foods, feeding, assist in dining room supervision, etc.). 2
  • Assist residents with identifying food arrangements (i.e., informing residents with sight problems, of foods that are on his/her tray, where it is located, if it is hot/cold, etc.). 3
  • Record the residents food/fluid intake. Report changes in the resident's eating habits. 3
  • Remove trays, clean resident's hands, face, clothing, and take to bathroom after meal care. 2
  • Perform oral care at least twice per day and prn. 2
  • Check rooms for food articles (i.e., food in proper container, unauthorized food items, etc.). 3

STAFF DEVELOPMENT:

Attend and participate in scheduled training and educational classes (a minimum of 12 hrs. of inservice training is required). 3 Participate in scheduled orientation programs and activities. 3

SAFETY AND SANITATION:

  • Release restraints at least every two (2) hours for range of motion exercises, taking to bathroom, etc. 2
  • Notify the Staff Nurse of any resident leaving/missing from the facility. 3
  • Keep floors dry. Report spills immediately. 3
  • Keep excess supplies and equipment off the floor. Store in designated areas. 3
  • Keep residents personal possession off the floor and properly stored. 3
  • Follow established smoking regulations. Report all violations. 3
  • Keep the nurses' call system within easy reach of the resident. 3
  • Report all hazardous conditions (i.e. verbal or physical abuse or neglect) and equipment to the Charge/Staff Nurse immediately. 3
  • Follow established safety precautions in the performance of duties. 2
  • Report all safety violations. 3
  • Before leaving work area for breaks, or at the end of the workday, store all tools, equipment, and supplies properly. 3
  • Wash hands before and after performing any service for the resident. 3
  • Wash wheelchairs, walkers, etc., as instructed. 2
  • Clean, disinfect, and return all resident care equipment to its designated storage area after each use. 2
  • Perform routine housekeeping duties that relate to nursing care procedures (i.e., clean bedrails, overbed table, night stand, etc., that relate to nursing care procedures). 2
  • Wash hands before entering and leaving an isolation room/area. 2
  • Report any communicable or infectious disease that you contract to the Director of Nursing Services and/or to the Infection Control Nurse. 3
  • Follow established isolation precautions and procedures. 2
  • Use gowns and gloves as indicated. 2
  • Respond to exit/door alarms immediately. 3
  • Respond to alarms on safety devices (i.e. bed alarms) immediately. 3

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES:

Use only the equipment you have been trained to use. 3 Operate all equipment in a safe manner. 3 Use only the equipment and supplies necessary to do the job. Do not be wasteful. 3 Report defective equipment to the Staff Nurse immediately. 3 Inform the Charge/Staff Nurse of your equipment and supply needs. 3 Use the lifts when transferring residents and wear lifting belts as directed. 3

CARE PLAN AND ASSESSMENT FUNCTIONS:

Review care plans/care sheets daily to determine if changes in the resident's daily care routine have been made on the care plan. 3 Inform the Staff Nurse of any changes in the resident's condition so that appropriate information can be entered on the resident's care plan. 3 Ensure that your documentation reflects that the care plan is being followed. 3 Report any resident behaviors and/or significant changes in resident condition to the Staff Nurse immediately. 3

RESIDENT RIGHTS:

Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information. 3 Ensure that you treat all residents fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect. 3 Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy. 3 Knock before entering the resident's room. 3 Report all grievances and complaints made by the resident or resident's family to the Staff Nurse immediately. 3 Report any observed or suspected incidents of resident abuse, neglect or misappropriation of resident property to the Administrator, DON, or your supervisor immediately. 3

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Works throughout the nursing service area (i.e. nurses' stations, resident rooms, etc.).
  • Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during working hours. Is subject to frequent interruptions.
  • Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
  • Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel, and visitors.
  • Communicates with nursing personnel and other department personnel.
  • Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends and holidays, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
  • Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
  • Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.

EDUCATION

Must possess, as a minimum, an 8th grade education.

EXPERIENCE

Must be a Certified Nursing Assistant in accordance with laws of the State of Illinois.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Must:

  • Be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language;
  • Possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action;
  • Possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public;
  • Be a minimum of sixteen (16) years of age;
  • Possess the ability and willingness to work harmoniously with professional and non-professional personnel;
  • Have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents;
  • Be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices;
  • Be able to relate information concerning a resident's condition.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS (With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

Must be able to:

  • Move intermittently throughout the workday;
  • Speak and write the English language in an understandable manner;
  • Cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position;
  • See and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to assure that the requirements of this position can be fully met;
  • Function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, support agencies;
  • Be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability;
  • Relate to and work with the ill, disabled, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility;
  • Lift, push, pull, and move a minimum of 50 pounds;
  • Assist in the evacuation of residents.

Tasks assigned to this position involve potential and/or direct exposure to blood or body fluids.