POSITION DESCRIPTION:

A nursing assistant is responsible for providing routine nursing care by established policies and procedures and as may be directed by the Charge Nurse, RN Supervisor, Director of Nurses, or Administrator, to assure that the highest degree of quality resident care can be maintained at all times.

• Currently enrolled in a school for nursing assistants or have a license as a certified nursing assistant.
• BLS certification
• A minimum of 6 months of experience as a certified nursing assistant or clinical experience while enrolled in a nursing assistant certification class.
• Must possess a sincere desire to serve the ill, aged, and infirm.
• Ability to read, write, and speak the English language.
• Possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, and the general public.
• Willingness to work harmoniously with other personnel.
• Must have patience, tact, cheerful disposition, and enthusiasm, as well as be willing to handle residents based on whatever maturity level they are currently functioning.
• Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility.

GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform all duties as assigned and in accordance with the facility’s established policies and procedures, nursing care procedures, and safety rules and regulations.
• Make resident rounds at the beginning of each shift and every two hours thereafter to administer quality nursing care.
• Verify the identification of a resident before administering nursing care or serving food, to assure that appropriate care is being provided to the correct resident. Report missing ID bands to the admission coordinator immediately.
• Make beds, clean bedside and overbed tables.
• Serve drinking water as required. Assure that water pitchers are cleaned, filled with fresh drinking water, and within the resident’s reach. Pass the water pitcher as per established policy and procedure.
• Dress residents neatly and in their own clothing. Assist residents in dressing as necessary.
• Assist in preparing residents for meals (taking to/from dining room, serving trays, placing bibs, assisting in feeding or cutting food, removal of trays, supervision in dining room, etc.).
• Serve nourishment in accordance with established facility procedures.
• Feed residents who cannot feed themselves.
• Assure that resident’s food is accessible and self-help devices are available as needed.

• Prepare residents for therapy, activities, physician visits, religious services, etc., to include transporting residents to/from such activities.
• Keep incontinent residents as clean and dry as possible at all times. Change bed linens, diapers, and clothing as often as necessary.
• Do not permit residents to smoke in bed.
• Assure that the nurse’s call system is attached to the bed and within easy reach at all times when residents are bedfast.
• Answer residents’ call lights promptly.
• Check for food in the residents’ room. Ensure that food is kept in a sealed container.
• Report all complaints to the Charge Nurse.
• Report any resident abuse immediately (ie., harsh/abusive language, unnecessary roughness, etc.)
• Report any medication found in the resident’s room. Take to the Charge Nurse immediately.
• Report all hazardous conditions and faulty equipment to the Charge Nurse immediately.
• Report any bruising, skin tears, incidents, or accidents to the Charge Nurse immediately.
• Attend in-service educational programs, on-the-job training programs, and meetings as directed.
• Other related duties as may become necessary or as directed by the Charge Nurse, RN Supervisor, Director of Nurses, or Administrator.

• Wash hands before and after caring for each resident.
• Place residents in the correct and comfortable position. The head of the bed is elevated at 30° for all residents on enteral feeding.
• Assist residents with dental and mouth care. Clean dentures after each meal. Keep dentures clean and soaked with Efferdent after dinner.
• Record the resident’s food and nourishment intake as directed.
• Perform after-meal care as required – cleaning the resident’s hands, face, clothing, dentures, etc.
• Assist residents to/from the bathroom. Offer bedfast residents bedpans and urinals. Clean and store such equipment after each use (document Intake and Output as directed).
• Check and document bowel movements and character of stools every shift.
• Bathe residents as assigned and in accordance with established facility procedures (encourage showers and other self-help measures/activities).
• Comb and brush the resident’s hair daily. Shampoo your hair on shower days.
• Clip and trim fingernails.
• Shave male residents daily or as needed.
• Keep hair under arms and face on female residents clean-shaven as necessary or instructed. Trim hair in nose and ears as needed.
• Observe and report the presence of reddened areas on bony prominences.
• Keep the drainage bag off the floor when a resident is in bed or in a wheelchair.
• Apply Vaseline or A & D ointment to dry skin in accordance with established policies.
• Move and turn bedfast residents at least every two hours and record such information on CNA notes.
• Observe disoriented and comatose residents and notify the Charge Nurse immediately.
• Apply postural support properly. Check with the Charge Nurse for the type of restraint to be used.
• Apply hand roll or splint to residents with contractures as outlined within the facility’s established policies and procedures.
• Follow infection control procedures in accordance with established facility policy when isolation techniques are necessary.
• Chart required information every shift. CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT – Cont’d.

• Complete Intake and Output documentation on all residents with orders before the end of each shift.
• Other related duties as may become necessary or as directed by the Charge Nurse, RN Supervisor, Director of Nurses, or Administrator.

• Presents a professional image to consumers through dress, behavior, and speech.
• Adheres to Company Standards for resolving consumer concerns.
• Ensures that all consumer/resident rights are protected.