POSITION SUMMARY

The CNA is responsible for providing residents with the highest quality of direct routine care in all activities of daily living, under the supervision of the LPN or RN and in accordance with the Nursing Assistant Program standards, the Resident’s Bill of Rights and the facility Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program. According to the Plan of Care for the resident, CNAs apply skills in basic nursing, personal care and basic restorative services while understanding the mental health and social service needs of the resident and being mindful of the needs in cognitively impaired residents. The CNA is part of the interdisciplinary care team that is dedicated to promoting independence, autonomous decision-making and facilitating residents to achieve and maintain the highest practicable physical mental and psychosocial well-being. 

The CMA is accountable for all provisions within and performing the primary duties of the signed, attached CNA job description. The CMA will also administer medications and treatments under the direct supervision of a nurse.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

QUALITY OF CARE

• Provides ongoing resident care upholding and promoting the resident’s right to be free from abuse, mistreatment, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property, immediately reporting any suspicions, reports or witnessed events to appropriate facility staff.
• Forms quality relationships, communicating and interacting competently on a one-to-one basis while integrating the resident-centered Plan of Care
• Demonstrates sensitivity to physical, mental, and psychosocial needs as well as maintaining dignity, while skillfully performing directed nursing, personal cares and restorative services
• Supports and promotes residents’ rights and attainment of as much functional independence as possible.
• Maximizes quality of living through continual monitoring and reporting of resident care, ensuring all outcomes are thoroughly and accurately documented.
• Provides the highest quality care to all residents, without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or differences in culture.
• Maintains awareness of facility QAPI goals and abides by and promotes the QAPI program.
• Practices and promotes a strong culture of customer service, ensuring a resident-centered experience.

BASIC NURSING, PERSONAL CARES AND BASIC RESTORATIVE SERVICES

• Facilitates Plan of Care through completion of nursing responsibilities, clearly communicating resident needs to primary caregivers and reporting changes and responses to interventions to the LPN or RN
• Completes basic nursing cares as directed such as taking and recording vital signs; measuring and recording height and weight; recognizing abnormal changes in body functioning and reporting to the LPN or RN; and caring for resident who are actively dying.
• Completes personal care as directed such as bathing; grooming; mouth care; dressing; toileting; eating and hydration; proper feeding techniques; skin care; and transfers, positioning and turning.
• Facilitates adequate nutritional intake for resident through assisting to and from the dining area; feeding or assisting to feed; monitoring and recording intake and output; passing water and offering fluids; passing and collecting trays; serving supplemental nourishment as directed by nurse; maintaining awareness of dietary restrictions; and following safety guidelines including wearing gloves when handling food or hydration.
• Completes basic restorative services as directed such as training residents in self-care and according to the resident’s abilities; use of assistive devices in transferring, ambulation, eating, and dressing; maintenance of range of motion; proper turning and positioning in bed and chair bowel and bladder training; and care and use of prosthetic and orthotic devices.
• Assists nurses with special procedures as directed, including implementing and completing critical care sheets, participating in care conferences, etc.
• Provides and ensures nursing care activities are practiced in accordance with Nursing Assistant Program standards while protecting residents’ dignity, privacy, and autonomous decision-making whenever possible.
• Facilitates assistance in areas such as getting to and participating in activities as well as assistance in resolving any grievances or disputes.
• Articulates meaningful discussion with residents based on their unique backgrounds, likes and dislikes.
• Maintains care and security of residents’ personal possessions.
• Interacts with resident’s family or support network, visitors and members of the interdisciplinary care team in a courteous and cooperative manner.
• Recognizes limits of knowledge, skill and experience; facilitates situations beyond the CNAs competency.

COMPLIANCE – SAFETY, DOCUMENTATION, HIPAA

• Ensures all call lights are promptly and courteously answered.
• Uses proper body mechanics at all times and reminds other nursing staff or facilitates correction.
• Constantly adheres to safety policies and procedures in lifting, positioning and equipment use, including use of transfer belts, Hoyer or mechanical lifts.
• Strictly follows Standard Precaution infection control procedures and OSHA guidelines regarding bloodborne pathogens to provide safe nursing care to include proper handwashing; maintaining disinfection/cleaning schedules; wearing PPE such as gloves, face shield, fluid resistant gowns, etc.
• Maintains a safe, clean environment in resident rooms and facility following infection control procedures to bag infectious linens and equipment or proper disposal of them; proper handwashing, disinfection/cleaning schedules.
• Avoids the need for restraints in accordance with DHS nursing home standards.
• Ensures all cares are documented and that resident records are complete through systematic collection, reporting and documentation of data that is secure from unauthorized access and follows state and federal regulations, including HIPAA to ensure privacy and maintain confidentiality.
• Promptly reports and documents incidents and errors involving residents, staff, visitors or self.
• Prioritizes work assignments consistent with number and level of staff available and resident care acuity.
• Reviews, departing staff report at start of shift, ensures duties and delegated tasks are complete at end of shift and reports off to nurse when leaving.

ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION

• Accurately administers regularly scheduled medications to residents via oral, eye, ear, rectal, inhalant and topical routes under the direction and supervision of an LPN or RN
• Assists resident with self-administration, if applicable
• Documents after administration the date, time, dosage and method of administration of all medications or reason for not administering the medication as ordered, including the signature of the nurse or physician who is authorized to administer or observe.
• Complies with pharmaceutical policies including sign out and administration of medications; reporting and documenting medication errors; obtaining and transcribing physician orders; proper procedure for label changes and expirations; following controlled substance policies and end of shift count; documenting PRNs as allowed. 
• Understands the metric, apothecary and medical abbreviations and their meanings.
• Knows and follows proper procedure to access the ER Kit and contacts licensed nurse to follow through.
• Recognizes limits of knowledge, skill, experience; facilitates situations beyond the CMA’s competency.
• Completion of a standardized Medication Administration training program for unlicensed personnel in nursing homes through the state in which the facility operates Current certification and listing on the state Registry.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Completion of state approved Nursing Assistant Program for the state in which the facility operates Current certification and listing on the state Registry.
• Experience in skilled nursing and/or assisted living community.

Education and Experience in Addition to CNA Requirements

Preferred

Required Skills and Abilities

• Resilience: ability to welcome constructive feedback, course correct and not take it personally
• Personability; ability to get along with all personality types and inspire trust with residents, staff, family.
• High emotional intelligence (EQ)
• Ability to actively listen, with the goal of understanding.
• Ability to clearly speak and proficiently read, write and understand English.