Resident Assistant

About the Department

This position is responsible for assisting the residents of Lakeland Health Care Center (LHCC).  This position is a temporary position, providing experience with the facility and LHCC residents prior to the employee earning their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).  It is expected that the Resident Assistant is either enrolled in or will be enrolled in a CNA class and complete all necessary training within six months of starting this position.  

Training wage is $17.07 per hour plus $2/hour shift differential for PM and NOC shift and $2/hour weekend premium.  Wage increases to $19.87 per hour plus $2/hour shift differential for PM and NOC shift and $2/hour weekend premium with a successful CNA certification.  

Position Duties

Prior to earing a CNA this position is responsible for the following:
Observe residents and report changes in resident's physical and/or mental status to the Unit Supervisor immediately.

Assist residents with therapeutic reaction activities.

Assist during meals and pass drinking water as requested

Answer call lights in a timely fashion, alerting CNA’s or the Nurse of resident’s requests.

Clean and sanitize food preparation utensils, dishes, equipment and resident serving/dining areas.

Monitor refrigerators for proper labeling, dating, storing, rotating and use of foods.

Assist residents in maintaining the cleanliness and neatness of residents’ rooms, including making beds and disposing of soiled linens and clothing.  

Stock linens and other resident items.

Assist with the washing of items such as wheelchairs, lifts, equipment, etc.

Use standard precaution for infection control as well as using isolation techniques, including the use of a particulate mask.

Ensure compliance with the Resident Bill of Rights by maintaining confidential resident care information and respecting residents’ rights and privacy.

Communicate problems or concerns with team members to assure issues affecting resident care outcomes or general operations of the facility are handled efficiently.

Respond to emergency situations per LHCC Emergency Response Plan.

Label residents’ personal items.

Assist residents to get ready for medical appointments.

Escort residents throughout facility to events, activities, and appointments.

Assist with other tasks and projects as assigned by the Unit Supervisor or Nursing Leadership team.

Demonstrate a commitment to county safety and risk management efforts.

Minimum Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

High school diploma or equivalent competencies obtained or in progress, and no relevant previous experience required.  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Ability to perform manual tasks associated with personal care of elderly.

Knowledge and understanding of Resident Bill of Rights.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Good oral and written communication skills.

Interactions & Communications

Responds to requests and initiates contacts to exchange basic or general information with others.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations and Other Special Requirements

Criminal background check free of convictions of abuse of individuals or misappropriation of property while in a formal caretaking setting.

All staff of Lakeland Health Care Center may be called upon to respond to emergency situations assisting residents in their physical positioning.

If you are not available to work on the date this position starts, you will not be awarded the position.

All employees may be required to work overtime as determined by the department head.

Decision Making

This position has authority to make decisions that are within detailed procedures and protocols and under close supervision.   These decisions directly impact performance in the job and/or work unit within the department and information is provided to others for their decision making.

Thinking & Problem Solving

In relation to established procedures, protocols and policies of the County, challenges of this position tend to be routine and primarily related to procedure and process issues.

Tools and Equipment Used

Telephone                                     Various Medical-Related Devices

WORK ENVIRONMENT   

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles.  The employee is frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals.  The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, risk of electrical shock, and risk of radiation.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS   

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to constantly use bilateral upper extremities, above/below waist and above/below shoulder height.

Ability to constantly walk and stand

Ability to constantly use hands and fingers to manipulate objects or to tend to resident needs.

Ability to constantly lift and move up to 25 pounds.

Ability to frequently lift and move up to 75 pounds with aid of provided equipment, or a second person assist.

Ability to frequently lift, push or pull 50 pounds unassisted with bending and twisting of trunk.

Ability to communicate to residents using talking and hearing.

Ability to identify resident care needs through hearing and seeing.

Must be free from communicable disease.

"Constant" means at least 2/3's of the shift.

"Frequent" means at least 1/3 of the shift.

NEPOTISM OR CONFLICT OF INTEREST COMPLIANCE  A person may not be offered or hold this position if the employment would result in that person being a supervisor or subordinate to an immediate family member. "Immediate family" includes the employee's spouse, brother, sister, parents, children, stepchildren, father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and any other member of the employee's household.

A person may not be offered this position if employment would create either an actual conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest.

HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA)  Employees of Lakeland Health Care Center are expected to respect resident’s privacy and provide confidentiality of all Protected Health Information (PHI).   HIPAA, the first comprehensive Federal protection for the privacy of personal health information was passed by Congress in 1996 and implemented in April 2003. Employees will have access to all information that is needed to perform their job, but they shall not have, or seek to gain, access to PHI that is not necessary to perform their job. Every employee, even one who does not use protected health information in their work duties, is obligated under the provisions of HIPAA.  All employees must protect resident privacy and respond to situations that may put a resident’s privacy in jeopardy.

Other Qualifications

Formal electronic application; oral department interview; reference check; background check; post-offer medical examination including drug screen.  Other job related tests may be required.