Certified Nurse Aide - Hospice Home Care

Windber Medical Center; Windber (PA); On-site; USD 16,531 - 22,041; Full time

Job summary

Windber Medical Center seeks a compassionate Home Health Aide to provide basic nursing care in patients' homes. You will assist with hygiene, mobility, nutrition support, and daily activities while following the care plan established by the Registered Nurse.

Responsibilities include wound, ostomy and catheter care, medication assistance as directed, and accurate documentation of patient status. Travel to patient homes is required, with emphasis on safety and quality care.

Qualifications

• PA Nurse Aide certification required.
• CPR certification required.
• Completion of Nurse Aide training course.
• Must obtain Palliative Care certification within 2 years of hire.
• Valid PA driver’s license is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide basic patient nursing care in the home setting under RN supervision.
• Assist with bathing, oral hygiene, grooming, mobility and transfer.
• Administer simple procedures under supervision and perform ostomy, wound and catheter care.
• Support therapy plans and document care and patient responses.
• Ensure a clean, safe home environment and proper inventory of supplies.
• Cross-train with Hospice/Home Health aides and follow precautions.

Skills

Communication skills

Documentation

Interpersonal skills

Observation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Nurse Aide training

Pennsylvania Nurse Aide certification

CPR certification

Palliative Care certification within 2 years

Driver's license

Job description

Position Overview

This position is responsible for providing basic patient nursing care and select services to patients within their home setting. The primary role includes ensuring patient comfort, basic hygiene, and assisting with medical procedures as directed by a Registered Nurse.

Essential Functions of Job

1. Perform basic patient care activities as directed and supervised by the Registered Nurse.
   • Bathe patient as assigned.
   • Assist with oral hygiene, hair, foot, nail and perineal care.
   • Ambulate, position, and transfer patients as necessary.
   • Perform active/passive ROM exercises and weigh patients as necessary.
2. Perform procedures/treatments as directed and supervised by a Registered Nurse.
   • Administer fleet or SS enemas as necessary.
   • Perform simple wound/decubitus care.
   • Perform ostomy care with daily cleanings, seal changes and stoma assessment.
   • Perform catheter care.
   • May perform other simple therapies as directed.
   • Deliver and maintain supplies to patients as needed.
3. Reinforce physical/occupational therapy care plans as directed.
   • Follow outlined care plan of therapy for repetitions and duration.
   • Document all activities per policy for each visit.
4. Promote a clean, orderly and safe work environment.
   • Remove and properly dispose of soiled linens, make an occupied and unoccupied beds.
   • Clean and maintain patient’s bed area as assigned.
   • Report any safety hazards immediately.
   • Wash and dry linens and dishes as assigned.
5. Assist with home making tasks.
   • Perform shopping tasks for patients within allotted time frame.
   • Assist with laundry tasks within the patient’s home or at the Laundromat.
   • Perform light cleaning, sweeping, dusting, vacuuming, general clean up.
   • Assist with small sewing tasks.
6. Assist with the patient’s nutritional needs.
   • Prepare nutritional diets within dietary guidelines.
   • Feed patients assigned and reinforce eating habits.
7. Effectively communicate patient condition and information related to patient care activity.
   • Document all care and therapy provided to patients accurately and legibly after completion of care.
   • Document patient response to any therapy.
   • Communicate changes in the patient’s condition to supervisor.
8. Provide post‑mortum care.
   • Bathe patients as needed.
   • Provide support to the patients’ significant others.
9. Make appropriate referrals to supervisors regarding community resources.
   • Keep current on requirements of community resources such as Area Agency on Aging, Association of Blind, Tableland, Ostomy and Cancer Society, etc.

Other Duties of Job

• Cross‑train with Hospice Aide or Home Health Agency Aide.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or required.
• Follow standard precaution guidelines.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received

Supervision is received by the Director of Hospice.

Supervision Administered

This position typically does not require the supervision of staff.

Mental/Physical Requirements

• Ability to manage multiple projects/tasks, adapt to changing environments, travel, and meet deadlines.
• Provide close attention to detail and maintain record‑keeping and routine paperwork.
• Use both hands for rapid coordination; communicate orally and hear conversation.
• Perform standing, walking, sitting, lifting 10–150 pounds, stooping, kneeling, carrying approximate 150 pounds, pushing/pulling 150 pounds, climbing stairs, bending, reaching, repetitive finger movement, and withstand repetitive twisting or pressure involving wrists or hands.
• Operate a motor vehicle as required.
• Work is classified as very heavy work level according to OSHA guidelines.

Work Environment

• Exposure to temperature changes, isolation, contact with patients, blood and bodily fluids.
• Frequent work outside and inside, wet and dry atmospheric conditions, vibration, machinery, moving vehicles, and work with hands in water.
• Occasional exposure to dust and moving parts of equipment.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Masks, particulate respirator, goggles, gloves, and body protection.

Qualifications

1. Education/Training/License/Certification
   
   • High school diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
   • Completion of a Nurse Aide training course.
   • Valid Pennsylvania Nurse Aide certification required; prior to June 30, 2002 certification preferred but not required.
   • Current Cardio‑Pulmonary Resuscitation certification required.
   • Must become certified in Palliative Care within 2 years of hire.
   • Valid Pennsylvania driver’s license required.
2. Work Experience
   
   • One to three months related experience and/or training preferred.
3. Driving Record
   
   • If deemed a driver, a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance are required.
   • Motor vehicle record checks will be performed upon hire and annually thereafter.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Write routine reports.
• Speak effectively with patients and employees.
• Perform basic arithmetic and apply common sense understanding to instructions.
• Deal with problems involving few concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of applicable state and federal home health laws.
• Knowledge of body mechanics.
• Knowledge of state nursing guidelines and health standards.
• Provide nursing care in an ambulatory setting and teach patients skills necessary for self‑care at home.
• Meet patient needs effectively and efficiently in medical and surgical areas of nursing and provide direction to other staff members regarding patient care.