The home health aide provides personal care and related services in the home. She functions under the direction, instruction and supervision of the staff nurse and the Director of Nursing and/or appropriate supervisor.

Qualifications:

• Completion of the 9thgrade; prefer high school graduate
• Ability to read and write consistent with job requirements
• *Completion of a basic aide training program consistent with state and FederaI requirements and for which a certificate was obtained
• Satisfactory performance on a competency evaluation and annual re-evaluation
• Completion of one year's employment as a nurse's aide in a hospital or health-related facility 
• Has the emotional and mental maturity necessary for establishing and maintaining a good work relationship with the client, client's family, and the personnel of the Company
• Has a reliable means of transportation

*Modify qualifications in accordance with individual state requirements.

Responsibilities:

Tasks to be performed by an HHA must be assigned by and performed under the supervision of a RN who will be responsible for the client care provided by the HHA. Under no circumstances may an HHA be assigned any responsibilities related to any intravenous procedures, procedures involving the use of feeding tubes or Foley catheters, or any other sterile or invasive procedures, other than rectal temperatures or enemas. Except as otherwise noted, duties of the HHA may include:

• Helps the client to maintain good personal hygiene
• Assists in maintaining a healthful, safe environment
• Plans and prepares nutritious meals
• Grocery shops when instructed to do so by the nurse
• Assists the client with ambulation or exercise as instructed by supervising nurse
• Assists with certain treatments as ordered by the physician and approved and supervised by the nurse
• Encourages the client to become as independent as possible according to the nursing care plan
• Attempts to promote client's mental alertness through involvement in activities of interest
• Gives simple emotional and psychological support to the client and other members of the household
• Establishes a relationship with client and family which transmits trust and confidentiality
• Prepares a report of her visit on the day it is performed and incorporates same in the clinical record weekly or as directed
• Reports any change in the client's mental or physical condition or in his home situation to her immediate supervisor, the staff nurse, or to the aide supervisor
• Carries out her assignment as instructed by the nurse or the paramedical team and reports to the nurse when she is unable to do so Works with personnel of other community agencies involved in the client's care as directed by the staff nurse
• Performs routine housekeeping tasks as related to a safe and comfortable environment for the client, as instructed by the professional nurse
• Attends in-service training as required by state and federal regulations
• Confirming on a weekly basis, the scheduling of visits with the Supervisor/Director, to coordinate necessary visits with other personnel
• Notifying the Company of absences due to illness, emergency leave, normal vacation periods, or special professional meetings which will affect agreed service with the Company

Organizational Relationship:

• The HHA reports directly to the Supervising Nurse for individual care, and Nursing Supervisor/Director of Nursing for overall job performance issues

Functional Abilities:

• Must have a car with required insurance and a state driver's license or reliable transportation
• Able to communicate verbally and in writing to the extent required by the position
• Able to physically perform the duties required by the position
• Able to travel to prospective clients ' residences