Hospice aide, Healthcare Nursing

Overview

Reports To:

Director of Clinical Services

About Luminary Hospice: At Luminary Hospice, we are a mission-driven organization that empowers our team members to shape our culture in order to provide the highest quality support to patients and families throughout their entire end-of-life journey. Our mission is to deliver personalized care that radiates compassion and preserves dignity for all that we are honored to serve on their end-of-life journey.

We are centered on caring for the whole person – with expert medical care, pain management as well as emotional and spiritual support along with resources, information, and emotional support for families and caregivers.

About the role: The hospice aide is a paraprofessional member of the interdisciplinary group who works under the supervision of a registered nurse and performs various services for a patient as necessary to meet the patient’s personal needs and to promote comfort. The hospice aide is responsible for observing the patient, reporting these observations, and documenting observations and care performed. The hospice aide will be assigned in a manner that promotes quality, continuity, and safety of a patient’s care.

• Perform personal care needs after given a patient’s assignment and attending to his/her requests promptly. If unable to perform a certain task, report to the Case Manager immediately.
• Provide patient and family with positive communication techniques, within the realm of ethical and respectful care, including confidentiality.
• Meet safety needs of the patient and use equipment safely and properly (foot stools, side rails, O2, etc.).
• Give personal care including baths, back rubs, oral hygiene, shampoos, and changing bed linens as often as assigned.
• Assist in dressing and undressing patients as assigned.
• Plan and prepare nutritious meals, including shopping, as assigned.
• Assist in feeding the patient as assigned.
• Take and record oral, rectal, and auxiliary temperatures, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure when ordered with appropriate completed/demonstrated skills competency.
• Provide proper care and observation of the patient’s skin to prevent breakdown of tissue over bony prominence.
• Assess and report on the patient’s condition and significant changes to the Case Manager. Also aware of the caregiver or other individuals living with the patient and interpersonal issues.
• Assist in ambulation and exercise as instructed by the hospice nurse or therapist.
• Provide a normal range of motion and transfers/positioning as directed.
• Assist with self-administered medications as allowed by state regulations, such as “reminders.”
• Offer and assist with bedpans and urinals. Assist as assigned with light laundry needs.
• Perform range of motion and other simple procedures as an extension therapy service as ordered with appropriate completed/demonstrated skills competency.
• Provide respite for patient’s/family/caregiver when on-site, as appropriate.
• Keep the patient’s living area clean and orderly, as assigned.
• Adhere to the organization’s documentation and care procedures and standards of personal and professional conduct.
• Participate in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
• Respect the patient and family/caregiver environment and patient’s personal needs.

• Active STNA or CNA (state will dictate) Certification in the state performing job duties.
• Meets the training requirements of the State.
• Completed a minimum of 75 hours of classroom and supervised practical training. Sixteen hours of classroom must be completed before a mandatory 16 hours of practical training.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Ability to read and follow written instructions and document care given.
• Understands hospice philosophy and is comfortable providing specialized care to the terminally ill.
• Satisfactory references from previous employers.
• Is self-directing with the ability to work with little direct supervision. Comfortable with issues of death/dying. Provides a calm manner when in a patient’s home.
• Has empathy for the needs of the ill, injured, frail, and the impaired.
• Possess and maintain current CPR certification.
• Demonstrates tact,…