Home Health Aide/Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

VITAS Healthcare; Panama City (FL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare company in Panama City, FL is seeking a Home Health Aide (HHA) to provide essential personal care services to hospice patients. Responsibilities include assisting with hygiene, meal preparation, and monitoring patient conditions. Candidates should have a high school diploma and documented training as a Home Health Aide. The role requires physical stamina and the ability to follow care plans.

Qualifications

• Must provide personal care and services to hospice patients.
• Requires documentation of training and competency evaluation.
• Ability to read, write, and follow directions.

Responsibilities

• Assist patients with personal hygiene and activities.
• Plan and prepare meals for patients.
• Report changes in patient conditions to nursing staff.

Skills

Personal care

Hygiene assistance

Communication skills

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

The VITAS Home Health Aide (HHA) is a non‑exempt employee, who is trained to provide personal care and services to hospice patients to augment care given by family members or other caregivers.

Assigned Job Responsibilities

Performs only those personal care activities contained in a written assignment. Home Health Aide (HHA) assignments may include:

• Home Health Aide (HHA) helps the patient to maintain good personal hygiene.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) plans and prepares meals. Feeds or assists with feeding the patient when needed.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) assists the patient ambulation.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) assists with certain treatments as ordered by the physician, and taught and supervised by the nurse for a specific patient including: assist with the change of the colostomy bag; assist with the use of a walker or wheelchair; reinforcement of a dressing; assist with prescribed range of motion exercises; assist with prescribed ice cap or collar; measure intake and output of fluids; and assist with medications that are ordinarily self-administered.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) reads and records temperature, pulse and respiration.

Other Responsibilities Not Included in a Written Assignment

• Home Health Aide (HHA) assists in maintaining a safe and healthy environment.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) promotes the patient’s mental alertness through involvement in activities of interest.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) provides simple emotional and psychological support to the patient, family, and other caregivers.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) reports any changes in the patient’s mental or physical condition or home situation to the VITAS Nurse and members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) teaches basic personal care to the primary caregiver.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) practices basic infection control measures.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) observes, reports, and documents patient status and the care and activities provided.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) completes at least 12 hours of in‑service training per calendar year.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) handles other tasks as assigned.

The Home Health Aide (HHA) May Not

• Be assigned by VITAS to any institutional setting.
• 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.
• Apply heat by any method.
• Care for a tracheotomy tube.
• Suction a patient.
• Provide any personal care that has not been assigned by the VITAS nurse or included in the plan of care.

Qualifications

• High School graduate or equivalent preferred.
• Meets personnel qualifications of a Home Health Aide as specified in 42 C.F.R. Section 484.4 and Section 484.36.
• Documented evidence of 75 hours of training as specified in 42 C.F.R. Sections 484.36 (a)(1).
• Documented evidence that Home Health Aide has successfully completed a Competency Evaluation program as described in 42 C.F.R. Section 484.36(b).

State Allowable Training/Certification

• AL, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IN, MI, PA, TX, VA, WI – CNA, HHA, HA.
• CA – CHHA.
• CT – Homemaker‑Home Health Aide.
• IL – HHA, NA.
• KS – Home Health Aide certificate.
• MO – Home Health Aide.
• NJ – Homemaker‑Home Health Aide.
• OH – Home Health Aide.

Special Requirements

• Home Health Aide (HHA) has the ability to read, write, and carry out directions.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) has the ability to travel per job requirements.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) has a telephone available in home.

Essential Functions/Physical Demands

The physical demands described for the Home Health Aide (HHA) are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Assist in lifting and transferring patients, as required.
• Lift objects in excess of 20 pounds.
• Stand or walk in excess of one hour per day.

Specific Vision Abilities Required

• Close vision.
• Distance vision.
• Ability to adjust focus.

The Home Health Aide (HHA) will be required to sit and stoop, kneel, and crouch.

Direction Received

• Home Health Aide (HHA) reports directly to the VITAS Nurse.
• Home Health Aide (HHA) receives clinical direction from the VITAS Nurse.