POSITION:

Responsible to assist, accompany and ensure resident safety under the direction and supervision of nurse.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

Education:High School Graduate or equivalent

Work Experience: Prior experience with elderly or impaired individuals in a health care setting preferred Knowledge of principle of resident hygiene, comfort and safety measures

Language Skills:

• Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical information, and to be easily understood through verbal communication in the English language.

Mathematical Skills:

• Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to perform these operations using units of weight measurement, and volume.

Communication Skills:

• Must have exceptional communication and customer service skills, and be empathetic.
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, responsible parties, staff and outside resources and agencies.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provide observation of residents in a manner that protects and promotes resident rights, dignity, self- determination and active participation.
• Observe and report changes in behavior to Charge Nurse
• If approved, accompany resident on walks on the facility property.
• Offer and respect resident choices in matters of daily routine, as long as their choices do not pose a danger to themselves or others.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Refer to residents by proper names unless resident requests otherwise. Avoid use of all pet names.
• Handle all residents’ property with respect.
• Assist with preparation for state inspections as directed. Attend survey training and interact with state surveyors as directed by immediate supervisor.
• Follow all facility policies and procedures including those related to infection control. Use personal protective equipment properly whenever indicated
• Communicate with Charge Nurse about assigned residents regularly throughout shift
• Monitor physical environment for safety or fire hazards and correct or report potential problems immediately to Charge Nurse. Promptly report housekeeping and maintenance problems to Charge Nurse
• Report injury to resident or self to Charge Nurse immediately
• Participate in fire and disaster drills. In the event of an emergency, carry out assigned duties to assure resident safety

JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and respect for, the rights, dignity and individuality of each resident in all interactions
• Appreciate the importance of maintaining confidentiality of resident and facility information
• Demonstrate honesty and integrity at all times in the care and use of resident and facility property
• Able to understand and follow written and verbal directions. Able effectively to communicate with staff members and residents through verbal and/or written means
• Able to interact effectively with individuals who are cognitively and/or physically impaired
• Knowledge of emergency and disaster procedures of facility. Able to locate nearest exit, to understand and respond to written or oral instruction in case of emergency
• Sufficient mobility, and strength to move freely through the building, to assure resident safety at all times and to assist, transfer or otherwise move residents of facility out of danger in case of emergency
• Demonstrate respect for co-workers and responds to needs of residents by complying with facility policies on attendance and punctuality and dress code. Able to arrive and to begin work on time
• Working knowledge and ability to comply with facility policies and procedures for workplace safety including infection control procedures, application of standard precautions for blood borne pathogens, use of personal protective equipment and handling of hazardous materials
• Demonstrate ability to prioritize tasks/responsibilities and complete duties/projects within allotted time
• Able to respond to change productively and to handle additional tasks/projects as assigned
• Able to carry out the essential functions of this job (with or without reasonable accommodation) without posing specific, current risk of substantial harm to health and safety of self and others
• Able to recognize changes in resident’s conditions as evidenced by physical symptoms, verbal expression or observation of change in mental or psychosocial status
• Other duties as assigned