Position Title: Home Health Aide

Accountable to: Home Health Supervisor

Department: Home Health

Classification: Non-designated FTE

Location: Island, Skagit or Whatcom Counties

Job Status: Non-Exempt

Job Summary: The on-call Home Health Aide is responsible for providing personal care while promoting a safe, supportive environment for patients/clients. The Home Health Aide works under the supervision of a Registered Nurse to provide personal care to the patient/client and/or to promote self-care and independence.

Job Responsibilities:

• Assists patients with personal hygiene care (bathing, hair, skin and nail care, shaving, oral hygiene, pericare, etc.).
  
• Assists patients with toileting (commodes, bedpans, and urinals), enemas, catheter and colostomy care.
  
• Obtains patient vital signs.
  
• Assists with nutritious meal preparation per prescribed diet; appropriate shopping and meal planning as needed.
  
• Performs household tasks as needed with consideration of infection control and universal precaution standards.
  
• Assists patient with transfers, ambulation and exercise; provide assistance with walker, wheelchair and quad cane.
  
• Provides care of prosthetic devices.
  
• Reminds and assists patient with self-administered medications.
  
• Performs delegated nursing tasks under the supervision of an RN.
  
• Supports patient to return to optimum level of functioning.
  
• Possesses a caring and kind manner toward people which respects patients’ individual lifestyles, choices, and beliefs and maintains patient confidentiality
  
• Exhibits professional demeanor, listens and communicates effectively.
  
• Acts as a positive member of VNPS team.
  
• Reports changes of condition and patient requests, follows VNPS policies and procedures, maintains accurate records and shows sound judgement.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Certification in the State of Washington as Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) or Nursing Assistant Registered (NAR) with two years of recent relevant experience.
  
• Current CPR Card
  
• Seven hours of AIDS training
  
  

Agency Requirements:

• Current Washington State driver's license
  
• Access to reliable transportation and proof of automobile insurance
  
• Acceptable driving record
  
• Current CPR certification
  
• Access to telephone, message phone or answering machine
  
• Tuberculin test upon employment and annually thereafter.
  
• Annual competency evaluation with skills demonstration
  
• Participation in required continuing education program to maintain and improve skills
  

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to perform a full transfer for an average sized adult.
  
• Strength to push a client in a wheel chair
  
• May have to bend, lift, stand, sit, reach, and climb stairs
  

Equipment Used:

• Mechanical lift device, sphygmomanometer and stethoscope, gait belt, wheelchair, protective equipment such as gloves and masks, thermometer

Working Conditions:

• The Home Health Aide will work in a variety of environments: homes, senior centers, and other locations.
  

Whatcom County, call 360-734-9662 or 1-800-551-1510
Skagit & Island Counties, call 360-336-9693 or 1-800-624-2714
or E-mail nurses@vnhomecare.org
Copyright 2002-2006