Position Summary

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA’s) are para-professional employees trained to provide personal care and health-related services. CNA’s help care for people who are sick, injured, convalescent or disabled. CNA’s work under the direction of staff nurse, RN Supervisor and the Director of Nursing and/or Assistant Director of Nursing; the nature of the direction and supervision required varies by job setting.

Position Responsibilities

• CNA’s are trained to provide auxiliary services, such as personal care and assistance with daily living tasks. Common responsibilities of CNA’s include (but are not limited to):
• Promotes and maintains a focus of patient-centered care
• Adheres to laws, rules & regulations and practices ethical integrity and interpersonal skills
• Maintains compliance with long-term care regulations including federal, state and health regulations
• Maintain a comfortable, orderly, safe and clean environment for patients
• Knowledgeable of the individualized care plan for patients
• Dress patients according to their needs, ranging from minimal assistance to totally dependent
• Bathe patients using bed baths, tub baths or showers
• Prepare, serve, and collect food tray; feed patients who are physically unable to feed themselves
• Toilet patients and assist with bedpans and urinals; may also help transport patients to the bathroom and provide incontinent care
• Administer medication as directed by nurse or physician
• Record patient vital signs
• Records all care information concisely, accurately and completely, in a timely manner in the appropriate computer system, format and on the appropriate forms
• Provide catheter care by emptying and recording intake and output
• Answers call lights in a timely manner
• Assist with ROM exercises, as prescribed by physical therapy
• Make beds and change linens
• Ensure that non-ambulatory patients are turned regularly, to ensure comfort and to prevent bedsores
• Lift, move, and transport patients using proper body mechanics of lifting devices for accident prevention
• Maintain skills necessary to safely and efficiently operate equipment and machines used in the performance of this job (mechanical lifts, shower equipment, adjustable chairs/beds, etc.)
• Report all changes of patients, physical and mental, to supervisor
• Accept reassignment as needed to provide necessary care for all patients
• Perform position duties in a manner as to assure resident safety and rights are priority
• Adheres to the facility corporate compliance program and promotes the program in a positive and effective manner
• Performs other position-related duties as assigned, depending on assignment/shift setting

Other Responsibilities

• Follows facility OSHA safety rules and procedures
• Follows facility policies and procedures and adheres to federal and state regulations for long-term care
• Respects cultural and religious practices of patients
• Upholds HIPAA regulations
• Maintains a punctual and dependable attendance record

Position Requirements

• High School graduate or GED
• Eighteen (18) years or older
• Graduate of State-approved training program
• Current CNA license, in good standing with the State licensing board
• Federal, State, and MHI required credentials current and on file
• Able to read and write consistent with the job requirements, cognitive skills as related to the position
• Proficient interpersonal relations and communicative skills

Working Conditions

Because the patients need round-the clock care, working hours include days, nights, weekends and holidays. The number of patients assigned per shift will vary with facility and specialty, if applicable. CNA’s must guard against back injury because they may have to assist CNA's with patient repositioning and transfers; they must follow proper company procedures as it relates to the use of mechanical patient lift devices. Employees are encouraged to safely move patients and request assistance to roll/lift/transfer patients. CNA’s may face hazards from exposure to chemicals and infectious diseases. In addition, the population cared for will contain patients that are confused, irrational, agitated, and/or uncooperative.

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift fifty (50) pounds. Moving, lifting or transferring of patients may involve lifting of up to one- hundred (100) pounds
• Ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull or carry patients
• Ability to use abdominal and lower back muscles over time without fatigue
• Ability to stand for extended periods
• Ability to bend, stoop, stretch, twist, sit, and reach
• Fine motor skills
• Visual acuity

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach forward with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and may lift and/or move 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Physical Demand Ratings are an estimate of the overall strength requirements that are consider to be important for an average, successful work performance of a specific job. The overall physical demand rating for CNA falls within the Medium classification. However, due to the resident population, this position has been classified as Heavy (exerting 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 20 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects). Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.