Duties:

• Provides personal care and related services in the home, under the direction, instruction and supervision of the staff nurse and the Nurse Supervisor
• Tasks to be performed must be assigned, in writing, by the manager who will be responsible for the patient care provided by the supportive care worker.
• Supportive care worker will not administer medications, take physician’s orders, or perform procedures requiring the training, knowledge and/or skill of a licensed nurse.
• No unlicensed person employed by the home health agency, in the course of employment with a home health agency, shall prefill insulin syringes for any patient served by the home health agency.

Responsibilities:

• Attends training, annually or more often as needed, to adequately provide the supportive care services provided by the home health agency. This training will include, but not be limited to information related to services and equipment used by the supportive care worker.
• Is willing to call their manager for questions at all times.
• Be able to follow and implement written assignments including, but not limited to:
  • Procedures to be used for meeting the client’s needs,
  • Reporting to supervisor as required, and
  • Documenting services provided during each visit
• Must be able to implement assigned duties including, but not limited to:
  • Assisting with medication
  • Skin care
  • Ambulation
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Exercise
  • Feeding
  • Hair care
  • Mouth care
  • Nail care
  • Positioning
  • Shaving
  • Toileting
  • Transferring
  • Respiratory care
  • Masks and oxygen flow
• Helps the patient to maintain good personal hygiene and assists in maintaining a healthful, safe environment
• Reports any change in the patient's mental, or physical, condition, or in the home situation, to the staff nurse, or to the Aide supervisor
• Performs routine housekeeping tasks, as related to a safe and comfortable environment for the patient, as instructed by the professional nurse
• Prepares a visit report, promptly, and incorporates same in the clinical record, weekly
• Plans, and prepares, nutritious meals, grocery shops, when instructed to do so, by the manager
• Assists the therapy personnel, as needed, with rehabilitative processes
• Encourages the patient to become as independent as possible, according to the care plan
• Attempts to promote patient's mental alertness, through involvement in activities of interest
• Gives simple emotional, and psychological, support to the patient, and other members of the household, and establishes a relationship with patient and family, which transmit trust and confidentiality
• Confirms, on a weekly basis, the scheduling of visits so that other necessary visits, by staff members, can be coordinated
• Works with personnel of other community agencies involved in the patient's care, as directed by the manager
• Participates in Agency meetings and staff development, as required

Environmental and Physical Requirements:

• Contact with clients under a wide variety of circumstances.
• Care is provided in client’s living environment with varying situations, including private homes, independent or assisted living or in an institution such as a hospital or long-term care facility.
• May be required to respond to emergency situations.
• Travel required.
• Position includes tasks that have the potential for exposure to blood/body fluids/tissues and other potentially infectious material such as body fluids/tissues.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to stand, walk, squat, bend, kneel, reach, twist, push, and pull.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Corrected visual and hearing acuity required.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• If a Nursing Assistant, certified by the state, the individual will meet the qualifications for a Home health aide, as his or her hours of training will exceed the minimum required.
• Must be free from health problems that may be injurious to patient, self, and co-workers and must present appropriate evidence to substantiate this
• Must comprehend the basics of personal care, housekeeping, and meal preparation
• Must understand, and respect, clients, including ethics and confidentiality of care
• Must have current CPR certification. Online certification is not accepted.
• Must have criminal background check
• Must be in good standing on the public nurse aide registry
• Must be able to demonstrate, annually, competency before providing care in the following areas: communication skills; observation/reporting/documentation of status and services provided; basic infection control procedures; basic elements of body functioning and changes to such that require reporting to a supervisor; maintenance of a clean, safe and healthy environment; recognizing emergencies and knowledge of the agency’s emergency procedures; respecting the client and their privacy and property; knowledge of the client bill of rights; appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene and grooming; and appropriate use of any equipment needed for the provision of services.