VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION

HOME CARE AIDE/HOMEMAKER

SUPERVISES: No one

REPORTS TO: Clinical Services Manager, VNA Professional Home Care Staff

WORKS CLOSELY WITH: Social Worker, VNA Professional Home Care Staff , Senior Home Care Aides, Home Helpers, Team Assistants

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Non exempt, hourly

SUMMARY OF DUTIES: The Home Care Aide/Homemaker (HCA/HMK) provides assistance with activities of daily living, treatments which are ordinarily self administered, and instrumental activities of daily living which an individual is unable to carry out due to a temporary or permanent disability. The HCA/HMK also functions as a trained and substitute caregiver when a household experiences stress or crisis precipitated by absence, incapacity or limitations of the usual caregiver. Home Care Aide services focus on maintaining and improving the individual’s ability to care for herself or himself, and on promoting community living with a personal feeling of wellbeing in a safe environment. Components of service include but are not limited to: personal care services, essential shopping, housekeeping and laundry, respite care, money management, consumer education, parenting skills and family management.

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Successful completion of at least 60 hours of Home Care Aide/Homemaking training, OR 75 hour certified nurse aide course work, and successful completion of a competency test as approved by the National HomeCare Council, the Iowa Department of Public Health and by this agency. Required is a physical examination completed at the time of employment and as requested by VNA with a physician’s statement of the employee’s ability to perform the duties of the job. Annual TB testing is required. Car, adequate liability insurance and current driver’s license are required. All offers of employment are conditioned upon the result of a criminal background check conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, as required by law and a negative finding on the Office of Inspector General’s Excluded Provider List.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND EQUIPMENT: Work is performed in clients’ homes, or other locales where the client might be, with the employee driving from home to home and getting in and out of the car numerous times during the work period. Clients’ homes are located throughout JohnsonCounty and within a fifty mile radius of the agency; the driving requirements include in-town and highway driving in good and inclement weather.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: The employee will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in the English language both verbally and in writing, the ability to successfully complete a competency test (written and activity) and organizational skills required to manage several client appointments each workday.

PHYSICAL/COGNITIVE DEMANDS: The employee will perform the duties of the job at clients’ homes during the work period. These duties include bathing activities, performing prescribed exercises, assisting with ambulating and transferring clients from one place to another, performing homemaking tasks including vacuuming, grocery shopping, laundry, etc. The duties require the ability to lift greater than 50 lbs on a regular basis and the ability to maintain stable balance while performing job duties, especially during tasks associated with patient ambulation and transfers. The duties also require the ability to reach, bend, push, pull, climb stairs, drive, etc., with or without the use of assistive/adaptive devices.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: To be performed with or without reasonable accommodation. The following duties are normal for this position. While this list is intended to be an accurate reflection of the job, it is not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned by the employer.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS/ PATIENT CARE

  1. Provides direct service to clients of all ages in their homes according to according to a physician plan of care and an Aide Care Planestablished by Clinical Services Manager or VNA Professional Staff. Routine personal care duties include assistance with bathing- showers, tub baths, sponge and bed baths; assisting with or supervising patient ambulation, assisting with transfers- from standby assistance to full assistance, including the use of lifts or transfer assist devices at times; assisting with range of motion and exercises, assisting with grooming, and assisting with dressing and undressing.
  1. Maintains a safe, secure, and healthy patient environment by following infection control standards and procedures; changing linens, dusting, vacuuming; maintaining kitchen and bathroom facilities, handling personal laundry; maintaining security.
  1. Provides nutritious meals by following prescribed dietary requirements and nutrition standards; preparing, cooking, and serving meals and snacks.
  1. Administers treatments by changing bandages, assisting with care of urinary devices, ostomies, assisting with application of supportive garments, splints, etc. under the supervision of a nurse or therapist, and assisting with other procedures as assigned. Assists patients with medications that are ordinarily self-administered (within agency policies). Helps remind patients of assisted living techniques, and assists with such techniques as using a cane or walker, using special utensils to eat, or using special techniques and equipment for personal hygiene needs.
  1. Helps family members care for the patient by introducing and teaching appropriate ways to lift, turn, and re-position the patient.

COMMUNICATION & DOCUMENTATION

  1. Maintains continuity of care by documenting and communicating actionson flow sheets.
  1. Communicates changes in client condition in timely fashion to supervisor or case manager verbally and in writing.
  1. Promptly notifies Clinical Services Managers of any complaints that impact quality of care.
  1. Immediately notifies Clinical Services Managers of any patient incident, and immediately notifies Human Resources or managers above of any employee incident that occurs during work hours. Completes documentation of incident report according to agency policies and in timely manner.
  1. Completes daily time sheets and documentation accurately and submits to Team Assistants according to the established schedule.
  1. Communicates respectfully and appropriately with clients, supervisors, and

coworkers and demonstrates the ability to develop rapport and maintain strong

working relationships with client, peers, and management.

COOPERATION & TEAMWORK

  1. Assists in providing feedback to supervisors regarding the adequacy, appropriateness and effectiveness of service in meeting client needs.
  1. Accepts supervision and follows the guidelines established by the VNA.
  1. Manages duties as assigned with minimal guidance or supervision.
  1. Is alert for opportunities for performance improvement and works effectively with supervisors and coworkers to continually improve home care aide services and present a positive image of the Visiting Nurse Association and its employees.

SCHEDULING

  1. Follows schedule of visits. Informs office promptly of any schedule changes and any openings for additional clients. Contacts VNA office with any difficulties in following schedule, and notifies VNA supervisor prior to start of work day (by 7:00 AM) if unable to carry out duties for the day.
  1. Demonstrates flexibility by adjusting readily to changing priorities.
  1. Participates in the On Call rotation as assigned.

POLICY COMPLIANCE

  1. Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities such as adding new competencies and attending agency In-Services.
  1. Completes 12 hours of In-Service training per year, as approved by VNA management.
  1. Protects the agency and clients by adhering to professional standards, agency policies and procedures, and all federal, state, and local requirements.
  1. Keeps client, employee, and strategic agency information confidential.
  1. Complies with personnel record keeping requirements (e.g. auto insurance documentation, licensure) on a timely basis.
  1. Maintains current CPR training.
  1. Performs other duties as necessary, including required participation in VNA emergency/ disaster plans.

Employee Acknowledgement:

My signature on this form shall acknowledge receipt of the job description for my employment with the Visiting Nurse Association.

I have read the job description to familiarize myself with general information and responsibilities. All of my current questions regarding this job description have been answered.

I understand that as part of my job responsibilities I may be assigned duties other than those currently described in my job description, including responding to an emergency event. In an emergency event, I understand my responsibilities may change.

I understand that I must be able to perform all of these job responsibilities with, or without, reasonable accommodations. I also recognize that if I need reasonable accommodations, I must inform the VNA in writing.

My signature below represents that I can perform this job with or without reasonable accommodations and am aware that I will need to participate in VNA's Emergency/Disaster Plan if an emergency event occurs.

I understand and acknowledge that any misrepresentation or false information will be considered grounds for dismissal from the VNA.

Employee Signature:______Date:______

Rev. 4/98, 2/99, 4/01, 7/01, 6/02, 10/03, 11/03, 3/06, 3/07, 8/08, 3/12, 2/13