PCA

Description

POSITION SUMMARY:             

The Personal Care Assistant (PCA) provides non-medical, hands-on assistance to clients in their homes under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN). The PCA’s primary responsibility is to support clients with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) to promote safety, comfort, and independence.

The PCA plays an essential role in maintaining a compassionate and professional environment that upholds the dignity and respect of each client, consistent with the mission and values of The Homecare Company of Tennessee.

 Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Personal Care:

• Assist clients with activities of daily living (ADLs) including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and oral hygiene.

• Support mobility needs, including transferring, positioning, and ambulation assistance as directed by the RN.

• Provide assistance with feeding and hydration in accordance with client care plans.

• Observe and report any changes in the client’s physical or emotional condition to the supervising nurse immediately.

Home Support:

• Perform light housekeeping tasks to maintain a safe and sanitary environment, such as laundry, dusting, dishwashing, and changing linens.

• Assist with meal preparation following dietary guidelines provided by the RN or client’s physician.

• Provide companionship and emotional support to clients to enhance their overall well-being.

• Run errands or accompany clients to appointments, if approved and assigned.

Communication and Documentation:

• Accurately document care provided and client observations in daily visit notes.

• Communicate effectively with the supervising nurse, care team members, and family members as necessary.

• Maintain confidentiality of all client information in accordance with HIPAA regulations.

Qualifications

To be employed as a Personal Care Attendant by this agency, the PCA must meet the following requirements:

Employment Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must pass a criminal background check and drug screening.
• Must have a valid Driver’s License and Car Insurance.
• Must have reliable transportation without needing the assistance of another person and/or company to provide the transportation.

Position Qualifications:

• Evidence of sympathetic attitude toward care of the sick
• Demonstrated ability to read, write, and carry out directions
• Evidence of maturity and ability to deal effectively with job demands
• Good verbal and written communications skills required
• Completes mandatory annual in services and/or training per
• Participates in professional meetings when directed
• Is able to work closely supervised to ensure competence in providing patient care.

Physical Qualifications:

• Visual/hearing ability sufficient to comprehend written/verbal communication.
• Ability to perform tasks involving physical activity, which may include heavy lifting and extensive bending and standing.
• Able to bend and stand an average of 6 hours per day.
•  Able to lift up to 50 to 75 pounds.
• Able to write up to 3 hours per day.
•  Able to work in a stressful environment.
• Able to drive 50 to 100 miles per day.
• Able to assess and communicate with ill patients, co workers, and general public.
• Is neat in appearance and practice, with good personal hygiene.

May be employed by the agency if following conditions are met:

Personal Care Attendants are expected to pass competency examination with at least an 80% or better. The content of the competency evaluation of the agency will include but is not limited to:

• Communication skills
• Observation, reporting, and documentation of a client’s status and the care or service furnished
• Basic infection control procedures and instruction on universal precautions
• Basic elements of body functions and changes in body function that must be reported to the Supervisor
• Maintenance of a clean, healthy, and safe environment
• recognizing emergencies and knowledge of emergency procedures the physical, emotional, and developmental needs of and ways to work with the populations served by the agency including the need for respect of the client and his or her privacy and property

Appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene and grooming that include:

• Bed bath
• Sponge, tub & shower bath
• Shampoo, sink, tub, or bed
• Nail and hair care
• Oral hygiene
• Toileting and eliminating
• Safe transfer techniques and ambulation
• Normal range of motion and position
• Adequate nutrition and fluid intake
• Patient rights
• Any other task that the agency may choose to have the home health aide perform