Lead Hospice Aide

Job Summary: Provides personal care and homemaking services to hospice patients as directed by the Manager, Clinical Operations (or designee) and/or Registered Nurse (RN). Performs care in accordance with the established plan of care and serves as a preceptor for new Hospice Aides by providing training, support, and mentorship.

Essential Functions:

1. Performs all essential functions of the Hospice Aide role in accordance with the plan of care developed by the RN, including but not limited to:
   • Obtaining and reporting temperature, pulse, and respiration.
   • Providing sponge, tub, shower, and bed baths.
   • Shampooing hair in the sink, tub, shower, or bed.
   • Providing oral hygiene, nail care, skin care, and back rubs.
   • Assisting with toileting needs, including use of bedpan or urinal.
   • Making an occupied bed.
   • Assisting with range-of-motion exercises, positioning, transferring, and ambulation.
   • Performing simple procedures as an extension of therapy or nursing services.
   • Assisting with exercise and mobility activities.
   • Assisting with self-administered medications as prepared by the caregiver/family.
   • Setting up meals and assisting with feeding in accordance with facility policies, when applicable.
   • Assisting with light household tasks essential to patient care in the home, such as preparing light meals, washing dishes, and dusting furniture.
   • Maintaining a safe environment and observing appropriate infection control precautions.
2. Assists in maintaining or improving the patient’s independent functioning as patient condition allows.
3. Serves as a preceptor for new Hospice Aides by providing orientation, training, guidance, and ongoing support, including technology support, as necessary.
4. Travels to patient homes, facilities, and other assigned locations as required; some travel may be out of the regularly assigned area/region, as necessary.
5. Reinforces the patient’s proper use of assistive devices.
6. Observes and reports changes in the patient’s condition, needs, or patient/family concerns to the Manager, Clinical Operations (or designee) and/or RN.
7. Interacts and communicates effectively with patients, caregivers, interdisciplinary team members, volunteers, and external customers.
8. Documents patient care in accordance with organizational standards and submits documentation in a timely manner per policy.
9. Performs additional tasks as assigned within their scope of practice, as delegated by leadership.
10. Provides scheduling support to the Manager, Clinical Operations (and/or designee) as needed.
11. Communicates complete and accurate information to all team disciplines promptly.
12. Acts as a resource for staff and assists with orientation and training of new team members.
13. Works collaboratively and actively participates in team functions, meetings, and interdisciplinary care activities.
14. Completes a minimum of twelve (12) hours of annual in-service education and training, in compliance with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987.
15. Utilizes assigned supplies/resources appropriately to support quality care and organizational goals.
16. Adjusts to changes in workload and schedule based on patient needs and departmental priorities.
17. Participates in internal and external education, training, in-services, quality improvement initiatives, meetings, and team functions to promote personal and professional growth.
18. Adheres to the organizational Code of Conduct, policies, procedures, protocols, processes, and all regulatory and legal requirements.
19. Adheres the NorthStar standards to care for every person, every time, 100% of the time.

Qualifications:

1. High school diploma or GED preferred.
2. Current CNA certification required.
3. Five (5) to Seven (7) years’ experience as a home health/hospice aide or nurse aide required.
4. More than three (3) years of service within the organization required.
5. Completion of a home health/hospice aide training and competency-evaluation program or an in-house competency-evaluation program.
6. Must demonstrate readiness for Lead Hospice Aide responsibilities by effectively guiding and mentoring fellow aides, modeling best practices in patient care, and consistently influencing team performance and patient outcomes in a positive, measurable way.
7. Must be able to read, write and speak English fluently and be able to effectively communicate in internal and external relationships for all essential job functions.
8. Ability to use technology (hardware and software) required of clinicians in their practice.
9. Must demonstrate the ability to follow oral and written instructions.
10. Must possess excellent interpersonal skills, be a team player, have sound judgment; effective organizational, communication, prioritization and follow-through skills; attention to detail; accuracy; dependability; tact; and ability to maintain confidential information.
11. Must be able to cope with family/caregiver emotional stress, cultural diversity and be tolerant of individual life-styles.
12. Proof of current tuberculin testing required. Patient contact will not be allowed until tuberculin clearance is documented.
13. The physical demands of the position include: vision, effective speech and hearing for extensive telephone contact; repetitive motion; traveling; driving or riding in motor vehicle; standing, sitting, walking, bending, reaching, and stretching; lifting up to forty-five (45) pounds unassisted and the ability to assist in lifting patients using appropriate lifting techniques and/or devices.
14. Must have reliable transportation.
15. Must be eligible to work in the United States.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work required of the position. It is not intended to limit the assignment of other duties.