Inpatient Hospice Aide - Part Time Nights

sluhn; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 18,000 - 23,000; Part time

Job summary

St. Luke's University Health Network is seeking an Inpatient Hospice Aide to provide comprehensive personal care for hospice patients under a written Plan of Care. Schedule is 24 hours per week with night shifts, supporting the patient’s comfort and daily needs.

The role involves assisting with bathing, meals, mobility, vital signs, and routine care, while communicating with families and staff. Prior HHA experience in a Medicare program is preferred and English communication is required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Two years of HHA experience under qualified supervision in a Medicare Certified program required.
• Ability to communicate in English.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive personal care and assist with other health care needs per the plan of care.
• Take and record vital signs including temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure.
• Assist with bathing, dressing, grooming, oral hygiene, and hygiene-related tasks.
• Assist with eating and meal preparation, including special diets.
• Assist with transfers, positioning, and ambulation as directed by staff.
• Support ostomy care, catheter care and dressing changes as instructed.
• Observe and report deviations in patient condition to nursing staff.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

High school diploma or GED

Competency evaluation program training

Job description

St. Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke's are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

Work Schedule:

24 hours per week. Week 1: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 12am - 8am. Week 2: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 12am - 8am. No Weekends.

The Inpatient Hospice Aide works as a paraprofessional employee who provides comprehensive personal care and assists with other health care needs for the patient under a written Plan of Care. JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Gives or assists patient with bathing, dressing, oral hygiene, hair treatments, nails and skin care.
• Assists patient with elimination, utilizing a bedpan or urinal, commode or bathroom.
• Assists patient with eating and meal preparation including special diets prescribed for patient.
• Assists with positioning, transfers and ambulation, with or without assistive devices.
• Assists patient with prescribed range of motion and prescribed exercise which patient and aide have been taught by designated professional personnel.
• Assists patient with application of non-prescription topical ointments.
• Takes and records temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure.
• Performs routine catheter care and removal of catheter if instructed to do so by professional staff.
• Performs clean and simple dressing changes and decubitus care.
• Assists patient with ostomy (where function is normal and care is routine). Includes emptying pouch, changing appliance and assisting with preparation of irrigation procedure.
• Charts tasks performed on designated records/reports.
• Observes tracheostomy and reports unusual findings to staff nurse.
• Communicates with patient's families and related persons, agency staff to achieve an effective exchange of verbal/nonverbal and written information.
• Observes and reports deviations from the usual physical and mental status of the patient and any unusual occurrence(s) to staff nurse within a timely manner.
• Provides holistic care to hospice patients.
• Acts as preceptor for new employees as part of orientation.

PHYSICIAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have the ability to sit for 2 hours per day, and up to 1 total consecutive hours. Must be able to stand for 10 total hours per day and up to 8 total consecutive hours. Must be able to walk 6 total hours per day and up to 10 total consecutive minutes. Must have the ability to frequently use finger/hands for fingering and handling. Must have the ability to use upper extremities for frequent pushing of objects up to 10 pounds and occasional pushing of objects up to 75 pounds. Must have the ability to transport patients weighing up to 250 pounds via wheelchair, stretcher and/or bed. Must have the ability for frequent stooping and bending. Must have the ability for frequent reaching above the shoulder level. Must have the ability for touching as it relates to feeling objects by touching with the skin, particularly that of fingertips. Must be able to hear as it relates to normal conversation, high and low frequencies. Must be able to see as it relates to general, near, far, color and peripheral vision.

EDUCATION:

High school diploma or GED required. Successful completion of a training and competency evaluation program that meets the standards established by the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as agency performance standards, required.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Two years of HHA experience under qualified supervision in a Medicare Certified program required. Certified Nurse Aide/Personal Care Aide/Home Health Aide experience preferred. Ability to communicate in the English language is required.

St. Luke's University Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer.