Home Care Aid (HCA)

Dependable Staffing Agency is looking to hire compassionate, competent, and dedicated HCAs to fill the needs of our Washington State community. Our focus is to provide fully trained and qualified health professionals to meet high-quality staffing needs at hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, adult family homes, & adult day care centers. These are immediate openings with both full-time and part-time shifts available.  If you have a desire to make a difference in your field with your knowledge, skills, and service, you are in the right.  This position is open all over Washington.

Scope:

          Home health aids are certified caregivers who provide household services inside the client’s home to prevent or postpone hospitalization and relocation to a facility. The home health aide carries out only the tasks assigned to them by the Registered Nurse. It is vital that home health aids stay within their scope of practice as outlined and regulated by the Washington State Department of Health.

Qualifications:

1. High school graduate or General Education Diploma (GED)
2. Satisfactory completion of a Home Care Aid program and a Home Care Aid license that is active and in good standing in the state of Washington.
3. One full year of full-time experience in direct patient care
4. One full year of full-time experience in a home health setting
5. Emotional and mental maturity as demonstrated by the ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with patients, their families, and other caregivers.
6. Strong observation, documentation, and communication skills

Responsibilities:

• Maintains accurate frequency of visits to each patient as assigned
• Reports to the registered nurse each day regarding tasks and personal care performed for each patient
• Attends in-services for a total of 12 hours per calendar year continuing education training
• Maintains a clean, safe, and healthy environment while caring for the patient
• Observes, reports, and documents patient status and services rendered
• Read and record vital signs
• Uses universal precautions and basic infection control procedures as required while providing care / house cleaning.
• Assists the patient / family in managing the basic elements of function for the patient and reports as needed.
• Recognizes emergencies, knows, and institutes emergency procedures
• Performs the following (and others as assigned) procedures while respecting the dignity, comfort, and privacy of the patient:
  • Bed bad
  • Sponge bath
  • Tub or shower bath
  • Skin and nail care (non-diabetic patients only)
  • Filing nails only for diabetic patients
  • Oral hygiene
  • Toileting / peri-care
  • Normal range of motion and positioning
  • Safe transfer and ambulation
  • Feeding and fluids (plan and prepare nutritious meals) – following the care plan/diet
  • Assist patient with oral medications normally self-administered
  • Assist with assigned treatments as ordered by the physician and supervised/delegated by the nurse
  • Routine/light housekeeping tasks as related to a safe and comfortable environment for the patient as instructed by the registered nurse.
• Properly uses and maintains equipment, cleaning, and personal care supplies
• Completes chart audits as assigned
• Communicates effectively with members of the interdisciplinary team, patient, and their families
• Establishes a professional relationship with the client and their families that promote trust, caring, respect, and maintains confidentiality
• Keeps simple records as instructed
• Reports change of condition immediately to the direct supervisor (i.e. illness, change in diet, change of cognitive or physical function, skin issues, etc.)

Special Requirements:

          Must have a car with state mandated insurance coverage on file and a current driver license as this position requires you to travel to clients home.

Organizational Requirements:

          Reports directly to the Director of Nursing or staff Registered Nurse that is assigned to that client

Physical and Sensory Requirements:

• Ability to read 12 point or larger type
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with clients, medical professionals, and resident families.
• Ability to walk, bend, lift, grasp, push, pull, use fine hand coordination, and to distinguish smells.
• Ability to travel to prospective patients’ residences