Nurse Aide
Department: Nursing
Department Supervisor: Director of Nursing
Shift Supervisor: Charge Nurse
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION: High school graduate or G.E.D. is preferred. A 75-hour nurse aide is a requirement, certification may be completed after employment begins. Nurse aides must be able to read, write, and follow written and oral instructions.
CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: All nursing assistants are required to complete annual 12-hour in-service training program. Failure to complete the 12-hour in-service training program, or any other requirement under local, state or federal law, will be grounds for termination.
WORK EXPERIENCE: Previous health-related experience preferred, but not necessary. Extensive on the job training is provided.
GENERAL JOB SUMMARY
A nurse aide is responsible for providing personal care and assistance in the facility. Nurse aides may be called upon to help residents in and out of bed, dressing, grooming, assistance in personal hygiene, including assistance in going to the bathroom, feeding and giving baths. Nurse aides will be called upon to provide basic treatments as required and directed by the nursing staff including taking temperatures and other duties. Nurse aides are responsible for observing and reporting changes in residents’ physical and emotional conditions to the supervisors.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following is a list of duties and responsibilities for nurse aides. All of the job duties are considered essential unless otherwise noted:
- Bathe or assist residents in bathing (bed bath, tub, shower or whirlpool).
- Perform or assist residents with personal grooming needs (shaving, hair care, nail care, oral hygiene, denture care, skin care, and cosmetics).
- Assist residents in dressing and undressing as needed in clothing appropriate to the time of day and season of the year.
- Assist residents in caring for and securing (non-loss) of personal articles, labeling clothing, etc.
- Change bed linen.
- Assist residents in before and after meal routine (wash hands, face, transport to and from dining area, prepare bedside environment for in-room dining).
- Provide prompt meal time assistance (check diet card for accuracy, position tray for residents convenience, help with cutting food, buttering bread, pouring liquids, etc.).
- Provide partial or total feeding assistance and encouragement as needed.
- Report appetite changes when necessary.
- Record observations on meal intake record if requested.
- Provide adequate hydration (pass ice and fresh drinking water, offer fluids frequently, record intake as directed, etc.)
- Provide between-meal nourishment when indicated (distribute supplemental nourishment as assigned, provide assistance as needed, accurately record and report intake of nourishment).
- Assist residents in all elimination needs (bedpan, urinal, bathroom assistance, etc.).
- Participate in facility incontinence program.
- Perform perineal care after each episode of incontinence.
- Perform catheter care per facility policy.
- Record bowel habits and urine outputs as directed.
- Collect specimens as directed.
- Reposition immobile residents at times and in a manner as instructed.
- Assist residents in transferring from bed, chair, wheelchair, toilet, etc., using appropriate equipment and following principles of body mechanics (determine number of persons for assist; use gait belt, hoyer lift, grab bar, etc.).
- Assist residents in exercise (active/passive range of motion, ambulation, etc.) as indicated by supervisor and individual care plan.
- Help restore independence through teaching and encouragement in ADL skills (eating, dressing, ambulation, toileting, etc.).
- Help prevent complications of decubitus and contractures by placement of positioning aides, protective padding, etc.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS
Lift Requirements: Nurse aides may be required to occasionally lift medical supplies, charts and other materials up to 10 lbs. Nurse aides may occasionally be called upon to lift various items between 10 and 50 lbs. Nurse aides will frequently be required to lift over 50 lbs while transferring a non-ambulatory resident weighing between 100 and 160 lbs.
Carry Requirements: Nurse aides will occasionally be required to carry various medical charts, supplies and other materials up to 10 lbs. Nurse aides may occasionally be called upon to carry objects between 10 to 50 lbs. Nurse aides will frequently be called upon to carry in excess of 50 lbs while transferring a non-ambulatory resident weighing between 100 and 160 lbs.
Sight Requirements: Nurse aides are required to have 20/20 corrected vision.
Hearing Requirements: Nurse aides are required to have a normal range of hearing, as corrected.
Socialization Skills: Nurse aides are required to maintain good socialization skills in and around residents and other co-workers.
Other Physical Considerations: Nurse aides will frequently be called upon for bending, squatting, kneeling, twisting and crouching. These activities will primarily be utilized during resident care and transferring of residents.