Utility Aide Job Opening

Purpose:

To perform non-professional direct resident care duties under the supervision of nursing personnel and to assist in maintaining a positive physical, social, psychological environment for the residents.

Essential 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.
• 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.
• Keep residents' water pitchers clean and filled with fresh water (on each shift), and within easy reach of the resident.
• 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.).
• Check rooms for food articles (i.e., food in proper container, unauthorized food items)
• Keep floors dry. Report spills immediately.
• Ensure that you treat all residents fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.
• Knock before entering resident?s rooms.
• Wash wheelchairs and Geri-chairs.
• Follow established policies concerning exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Watch for and report any change in room temperature, ventilation, lighting etc.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.
• Report defective equipment to the nurse supervisor.
• Report all grievances and complaints made by the resident to the nurse supervisor.
• Performs other related assignments as required.

Work Schedule

• As assigned, including some week-ends, evenings and Holidays.

Working Conditions

• Works in well-lighted/ventilated areas.
• Most of the work is performed indoors
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing staff, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal duty hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• May be exposed to bodily fluids, infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the AIDS and hepatitis B viruses.

Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; implements or office equipment; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Collect information through observation, listening, touching, and smelling.
• Must have auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess
• Job requires regular sitting, standing, walking, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, twisting, writing, and carrying charts, food, trays, etc.
• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and color vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Employee may be required to move chairs, beds, and medical equipment, move patients in bed (with or without assistance).
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with the residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people within the facility.
• May be required to lift, push, pull, and move equipment, supplies, etc., in excess of fifty (50) pounds.

Safety, Sanitation and Infection Controls

• Assure the assigned work areas are maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary manner.
• Assure that established infection control and universal precautions practices are observed.
• Report all hazardous conditions or equipment to your supervisor.
• Follow established safety policies and procedures.
• Dispose of refuse daily in accordance with established sanitation procedures.
• Keep work/assignment areas free of hazardous objects, unnecessary equipment, supplies, etc.
• Report any accident/incident to your supervisor no matter how minor.

Qualifications:

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must be compassionate, caring and able to have a positive attitude towards the elderly.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.