CNA – Job Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Functions
Interpersonal, Teamwork & Misc.
– Communicates unresolved work-related issues productively & effectively solves problems
– Handles confidential information appropriately and is HIPAA compliant
– Friendly and courteous to residents, co-workers etc, and takes ownership in solving problems (taking initiative where appropriate)
– Works well in a team, owning personally assigned work and assisting wherever needed to get the job done
– Follows established policies and guidelines
– Reliable and predictable attendance
– Other Duties as assigned
Administrative Functions
– Use the wristband or photo card file to identify residents before providing care, serving meals, etc., as necessary.
– Record all entries on flow sheets, notes, charts, etc., in an informative and descriptive manner.
– Use only authorized abbreviations established by this facility when recording information.
– Report all changes in the resident’s condition to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse as soon as practical.
– Report all accidents and incidents you observe immediately on the shift as soon as they occur.
– Agree not to disclose assigned user ID code and password for accessing resident/facility information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.
– Agree not to disclose resident’s protected health information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.
– Report any known or suspected unauthorized attempt to access facility’s information system.
Admission, Transfer, and Discharge Functions
– Ensure that the resident’s room is ready for receiving the resident (i.e., bed made, name tags up, admission kit available, etc.).
– Greet residents and escort them to their room.
– Introduce resident to his/her roommate, if any, and other residents and personnel as appropriate.
– Make resident comfortable (i.e., put to bed, get water, etc.).
– Inventory and mark the resident’s personal possessions as instructed.
– Store resident’s clothing.
– Assist residents with packing their personal possessions when they are being transferred to a new room, or when being discharged.
– Transport residents to new rooms or to the receiving area.
– Assist with loading/unloading residents from vehicles, as necessary.
Personnel Functions
– Perform all assigned tasks in accordance with our established policies and procedures, and as instructed by your supervisors.
– Follow work assignments, and/or work schedules in completing and performing your assigned tasks.
– Cooperate with inter-departmental personnel, as well as other facility personnel to ensure that nursing services can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the residents.
– Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.
– Meet with your shift’s nursing personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services.
– Report all complaints and grievances made by the resident.
– Notify the facility when you will be late or absent from work.
– Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals to your supervisor.
– Report known or suspected incidents of fraud to the Administrator.
– Ensure that departmental computer workstations left unattended are properly logged off or the password protected automatic screensaver activates within established facility policy guidelines.
Nursing Care Functions
– Participate in and receive the nursing report upon reporting for duty.
– Follow established policies concerning exposure to blood/body fluids.
– Assist residents with daily dental and mouth care (i.e., brushing teeth/dentures, oral hygiene, special mouth care, etc.).
– Assist residents with bath functions (i.e., bed bath, tub or shower bath, etc.) as directed.
– Assist residents with dressing/undressing, as necessary.
– Assist residents with hair care functions (i.e., combing, brushing, shampooing, etc.).
– Assist residents with nail care (i.e., clipping, trimming, and cleaning the finger/toenails). (Note: Does not include diabetic residents.)
– Shave male residents.
– Keep hair on female residents clean shaven (i.e., facial hair, under arms, on legs, etc.) as instructed.
– Keep residents dry (i.e., change gown, clothing, linen, etc., when it becomes wet or soiled).
– Change bed linens. Keep linens tight to avoid wrinkles from forming under the resident.
– Make beds (occupied and unoccupied).
– Put extra covers on beds as requested.
– Position bedfast residents in correct and comfortable position.
– Assist resident with bowel and bladder functions (i.e., take to bathroom, offer bedpan/urinal, portable commode, etc.).
– Maintain intake and output records as instructed.
– Keep incontinent residents clean and dry.
– Check and report bowel movements and character of stools as instructed.
– Assist residents in preparing for medical tests (i.e., lab work, x-ray, therapy, dental, etc.).
– Assist residents in preparing for activity and social programs (i.e., church services, parties, visitors, etc.).
– Assist in transporting residents to/from appointments, activity, and social programs, etc., as necessary.
– Assist with lifting, turning, moving, positioning, and transporting residents into and out of beds, chairs, bathtubs, wheelchairs, lifts, etc.
– Assist residents to walk with or without self-help devices as instructed.
– Perform restorative and rehabilitative procedures as instructed.
– Assist in preparing the resident for a physical examination.
– Weigh and measure residents as instructed and per policy
– Measure and record temperatures, pulse, and respirations (TPRs), as instructed.
– Answer resident calls as promptly as feasible.
– Ensure that residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently.
– Check each resident routinely to ensure that his/her personal care needs are being met in accordance with his/her wishes.
– Assist with the care of the dying resident.
– Provide post-mortem care as instructed.
Special Nursing Care Functions
– Observe and report the presence of pressure areas and skin breakdowns to prevent decubitus ulcers (bedsores).
– Report injuries of an unknown source, including skin tears.
– Provide daily indwelling catheter care.
– Provide daily perineal care.
– Assist with the application of slings, elastic bandages, binders, etc. as assigned (Restorative Aid function)
– Provide Bed Bath per resident needs/wishes
– Provide daily Range of Motion Exercises. Record data as instructed.
– Reposition residents at least every 2 hours or more frequently according to individual plan of care
– Turn all medications found in the resident’s room/possession over to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse.
– Watch for and report any change in room temperature, ventilation, lighting, etc.
Restorative Nursing Assistant Functions
– Directs and assists in transfer and ambulation techniques and range of motion exercise activities
– Directs and assists in the use of walkers or other assistive devices
– Coordinates self-help training
– Coordinates or assists with other restorative functions
– Evaluates progress documents daily, weekly, monthly and as needed
– Participates in care planning
Food Service Functions
– Prepare residents for meals (i.e., take to bathroom, wash hands, comb hair, raise bed, position tables, place bibs, take to/from dining room, etc.).
– Serve food trays. Assist with feeding as indicated (i.e., cutting foods, feeding, assist in dining room supervision, etc.).
– Assist residents with identifying food arrangements (i.e., informing resident with sight problem of foods that are on his/her tray, where it is located, if it is hot/cold, etc.).
– Record the resident’s food/fluid intake. Report changes in the resident’s eating habits.
– Keep residents’ water pitchers clean and filled with fresh water (on each shift), and within easy reach of the resident.
– Serve between meal and bedtime snacks.
– Perform after meal care (i.e., remove trays, clean resident’s hands, face, clothing, take to bathroom, brush teeth, clean dentures, etc.).
– Check rooms for food articles (i.e., food in proper container, unauthorized food items, etc.).
Staff Development
– Attend and participate in scheduled training and educational classes to maintain current certification as a Nursing Assistant.
– Attend and participate in scheduled orientation programs and activities.
– Attend and participate in facility in-service training programs as instructed.
Safety and Sanitation
– Participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids.
– Wash hands before and after performing any service for the resident.
– Keep the nurses’ call system within easy reach of the resident.
– Immediately notify the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse of any resident leaving/missing from the facility.
– Follow established safety precautions in the performance of all duties.
– Keep residents’ personal possessions off the floor and properly stored.
– Keep floors dry. Report spills immediately.
– Keep excess supplies and equipment off the floor. Store in designated areas
– Wash wheelchairs, walkers, etc., as instructed.
– Clean, disinfect, and return all resident care equipment to its designated storage area after each use as assigned
– Perform routine housekeeping duties (i.e., clean bedrails, overbed table, night stand, etc., that relate to nursing care procedures).
– Before leaving work area for breaks, or at the end of the workday, store all tools, equipment, and supplies.
– Report all hazardous conditions and equipment to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse immediately.
– Report all safety violations.
– Follow established smoking regulations. Report all violations.
– Report any communicable or infectious disease to the Director of Nursing Services and/or to the Infection Control Coordinator.
– Follow established isolation precautions and procedures.
– Wash hands before entering and after leaving an isolation room/area.
– Follow established procedures in the use and disposal of personal protective equipment.
– Wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies (e.g., back brace, mechanical lifts, etc.) when lifting or moving residents.
– Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to your supervisor.
Equipment and Supply Functions
– Use only the equipment you have been trained to use.
– Operate all equipment in a safe manner.
– Use only the equipment and supplies necessary to do the job. Do not be wasteful.
– Report defective equipment to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse.
– Inform the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse of your equipment and supply needs.
Care Plan and Assessment Functions
– Follow the care plan to deliver care plan in accordance with patient needs
– Provide resident care according to care plan/KARDEX review (review care plan/KARDEX and get prior shift report prior to delivering care)
– Inform the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse of any changes in the resident’s condition so that appropriate information can be entered on the resident’s care plan.
– Ensure that your notes reflect that the care plan is being followed.
Budget and Planning Functions
– Report suspected or known incidence of fraud relative to false billings, cost reports, kickbacks, etc.
Resident Rights
– Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information including protected health information. Report known or suspected incidents of unauthorized disclosure of such information.
– Ensure that you treat all residents fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.
– Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy.
– Knock before entering the resident’s room.
– Report all grievances and complaints made by the resident to the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse.
– Report all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property.
– Honor the resident’s refusal of treatment request. Report such requests to your supervisor.
Physical Capabilities
– Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
– Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which includes an annual TB screening and physical examination.
– Must be able to lift a minimum of 25 pounds.
– Must be able to lift up and over 100 pounds with assistance according to resident’s abilities.
– Must be able to move intermittently during working hours.
– Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time.
– Must be able to bend, squat, push, stoop and pull as needed especially in fulfilling resident care activities.
– Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
Environment Conditions
– Inside work, normal temperatures, some noise, occasional fumes/odors, chemical exposure, and potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
– This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24-hour skilled care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and cognitively impaired residents in an aging population.
– Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to: emergency health or safety response, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in a nursing home, death and dying, oversight of state surveyors, ombudsmen and federal officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff.
– HIPAA is a law that must be followed by all healthcare personnel at every level. This position is a Mandated Reporter regarding the suspicion of elder abuse and may have access to Protected Health Information (PHI).