Personal Care Assistant - Full-Time 1st Shift

SUMMARY:

Under general supervision, assists with activities of daily living and daily tasks. Provides effective, timely, and quality assistance and related support for Assisted Living and Independent Living Residents.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

General

• Assists with resident reminders.
• Transportation to and from meals and activities.
• Delivering meals in dining room and apartments.
• Providing response customer service to varying standard daily requests .
• Assists with Activities and socialization.
• Helps set out clothes and personal items.
• Assists with indoor and outdoor mobility with supportive devices.
• Responsible for ordering supplies for the Cottage from appropriate departments.

Direct Care

• Assists residents with daily dental and mouth care (i.e. brushing teeth/dentures, oral hygiene, special mouth care, etc. as needed)
• Assists residents with undressing/dressing as necessary
• Assists residents with hair care functions (i.e. Combing, brushing, shampooing, etc.)
• Assists residents with nail care (i.e. Clipping, trimming and cleaning the finger/toenails)
• Assists residents with bathing functions according to resident service plan and as directed (i.e. Shower, bath, and whirlpools)
• Assists residents with shaving (female residents – facial hair, under arms, legs, etc. as instructed. Male residents – facial hair.)
• Position residents in correct and comfortable positions for pressure relief.
• Assists residents with bowel and bladder functions. (i.e. Take to bathroom, change Prevails, perform pericare, etc.)
• Assists residents with lifting, turning, moving, positioning, and transporting residents into and out of beds, chairs, bathtubs, and wheelchairs. Assists residents to walk with or without self-help devices as instructed.
• Answers resident calls promptly.
• Assists with the care of the dying resident, maintaining hope, dignity and love for the resident at all times.

Housekeeping and General Cleaning

• Make beds as needed.
• Changes soiled linen and bedding
• Disposes of soiled or contaminated items in accordance with facility policy on blood borne pathogens.
• Cleans all areas of the resident’s environment according to housekeeping procedures.

Communication/Reporting

• Takes vital signs on residents and properly records each resident’s vital signs as assigned (i.e. Blood pressure, temperature, pulse)
• Observes residents well being including changes in behavior, change in vital signs, etc. and reports such changes to the appropriate supervisor.
• Weighs and measures residents as instructed.
• Participates in and receives the nursing report on assigned shift.
• Maintains the confidentiality of all resident care information according to the St. John’s Policy on Confidentiality and Residents Rights.
• Reports suspected abuse of a resident or inappropriate behavior toward a resident to the supervisor immediately.

Food Preparation and Service

• Assist in serving food.
• Facilitates Flexibility in meal plan and provision.
• Encourages resident’s participation in food preparation, service, and clean up.
• Prepares and stores food as per requirements of Serve Safe™ course.
• Encourages and makes available healthy snacks.
• Orders groceries as per procedure.

Safety

• Obeys safety rules of St. John’s United.
• Identifies, reports, and/or corrects obvious safety hazards.
• Attends Mandatory safety in-services.
• Utilizes proper body mechanics when transferring residents.
• Follows established policies and procedures regarding exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies( i.e. gait belts, personal protective equipment)

Mission/Customer Service

Employee Responsibilities

• Follows policy and procedures on annual influenza vaccinations
• Follows policy and procedures on TB Testing
  
• Attends all mandatory in-services
• Attends and participates in scheduled training and educational classes to maintain current certification in accord with the State of Montana
• Performs other duties as assigned by Nurse Managers or person in charge of area where work is being done

REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum Requirements: High school diploma or GED preferred. Prior experience in a human service or health care setting preferred. Must complete the SJU CNA Course within 6 months from hire date. Must obtain certification within 120 days of class completion. 

Knowledge, skills, and abilities required:

• Skill in observation of human behaviors or changes of condition
• Ability to understand written and verbal communication. Ability to interact effectively and professionally with residents, family members, and coworkers.
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• Ability to lift and manipulate heavy objects
• Ability to understand and follow safety policies and procedures
• Need to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully pass required state certification exam
• Ability to use various health care supplies and equipment, including blood pressure devices, thermometers, wheelchairs, lifts, etc.
• Ability to understand resident charts and service plans
• Ability to relate to and work with the ill, elderly, disabled, emotionally upset, and at times, combative people within the facility
• Ability to respond to residents needs in a timely and professional manner, recognizing the resident’s rights
• Ability to deal with stressful situations (i.e. Death and Dying)