Direct Care Worker (Meds) PT

Midwest Health; Algona (IA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Midwest Health is seeking a Direct Care Worker (meds) to provide compassionate direct care to residents, assist with daily living activities, and support medication administration. The role includes housekeeping, laundry, and ensuring adherence to care plans and safety policies.

Responsibilities include vitals, feeding support, documentation, and supervising residents during shifts. Candidates should be reliable, able to work weekends/holidays, and maintain a clean, orderly med room.

Qualifications

• Must be able to assist residents with activities of daily living.
• Experience with elder care and patient safety protocols preferred.
• Ability to document resident information accurately and timely.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care for residents, including assistance with daily living activities and mobility.
• Assist with bathing, dressing, grooming, and peri care as needed.
• Take and record vital signs according to schedule and policies.
• Assist residents at mealtimes and provide feeding support if required.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of med room and cart.
• Pass medications and adhere to physician orders and schedules.
• Provide housekeeping and laundry services as scheduled by supervisor.
• Document information and report resident status before leaving shift.

Skills

Vital signs monitoring

Medication administration

Daily living assistance

Documentation

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Key Job Duties and Responsibilities

The Direct Care Worker (meds) is required to provide direct care to community residents, primarily for their activities of daily living. In addition, employee will assist with housekeeping and laundry duties, mealtime service, and all other duties assigned by the Executive Director.

The following is a general list of key job duties and responsibilities in your position. The list is not to be considered inclusive and you will be required to perform other duties/responsibilities as assigned by an authorized supervisor.

• Assist residents in and out of bed and into wheelchair according procedure. This may require the assistance of another aide, and/or the use of a gait belt.
• Assist residents in bathing.
• Assist residents in dressing or undressing.
• Assist resident to bathroom and provide peri care as needed.
• Take and record vital signs of residents according to community schedule and policies.
• Assist residents to dining area for meals. May be required to assist with feeding of residents.
• May be required to strip bedding and replace with clean linens per schedule or as needed.
• May be required to assist in personal grooming of residents.
• May be required to turn residents as needed when designated on care plan.
• May be required to clean bedpans and empty catheter bags.
• May be required to document and/or report information regarding residents as instructed. Documentation must be completed prior to leaving the shift.
• Maintain med room in a clean and orderly manner.
• Give shift report as required on resident status.
• Provide housekeeping/cleaning services as required and scheduled by the Executive Director. This shall include both resident areas and common areas of the community.
• Provide laundry and linen service as required and deliver all resident laundry as designated.
• Perform minor maintenance and servicing on community equipment as instructed. This includes inventory of supplies. Monitors personal and staff compliance to all state and federal requirements including but not limited to blood borne pathogens, hazardous materials, infection control, and fire safety.
• Monitors personal and staff compliance to residents’ rights.
• Passes medications and gives treatments according to physician’s orders in a timely fashion and according to community policies and schedules.
• Perform simple dressing changes to wounds.
• Notify RN of medications needing to be refilled.
• Maintain a clean and organized med cart.
• Employee must be available to work rotating weekends and holidays.
• May be required to clean bedpans and empty catheter bags.
• May be required to document and/or report information regarding residents as instructed. Documentation must be completed prior to leaving the shift.

Essential Job Duties/Physical Requirements

The following is a general list of key job/physical requirements for your position. The list is not to be considered inclusive and other job/physical requirements may be necessary as deemed by the Community.

• Regular worksite attendance.
• Must complete at least 12 hours of in-service education approved and required by the community, Department of Human Services, and Department of Inspections and Appeals.
• Must complete Relias assignments on time.
• Must successfully complete skills check-off with the RN annually.
• Must demonstrate on an ongoing basis the ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with co-workers and other departments.
• Must have basic computer skills.
• If required to operate a motor vehicle for business purposes, must successfully complete the requirements contained in Company’s Motor Vehicles policy.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must be able to work beyond normal working hours and on weekends and holidays when necessary.
• Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.
• Must be able to perform the essential position functions of the job with, or without reasonable accommodation.
• Employee is required to use a transfer/gait belt or to obtain the assistance of another employee when attempting to assist residents when lifting or carrying objects in excess of 25 pounds. The employee must be aware that during the normal, routine performance of the essential functions, some of the following body movements may occur naturally, although hey may not be a requirement of the job.

Primary Physical Requirements

• Lift up to 10 lbs: Constantly
• Lift 11 to 25 lbs: Frequently
• Lift 26 to 50 lbs: Frequently
• Lift over 50 lbs: Frequently
• Carry up to 10 lbs: Constantly
• Carry 11 to 25 lbs: Occasionally
• Carry 26 to 50 lbs: Occasionally
• Carry over 50 lbs: Rarely
• Reach above must height: Frequently
• Reach at shoulder height: Constantly
• Reach below shoulder height: Constantly
• Push/Pull: Constantly

Hand Manipulation

• Grasping: Constantly
• Handling: Constantly
• Torquing: Occasionally
• Fingering: Frequently

Other Physical Considerations

• Twisting, Bending, Crawling, Squatting, Kneeling, Crouching, Climbing and Balancing are all required.
• Employees may be required to operate and automobile and various games.
• Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the Community.
• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.