CNA Coordinator - Day Shift (CNA IV)

Job Description

The Veterans Home at Holyoke is seeking experienced and collaborative professionals for the role of CNA IV. The incumbent for this position is pivotal in supporting nursing staff with non-clinical and essential patient care under the direction of Registered Nurses and/or Licensed Practical Nurses. The role is specifically tailored to cater to the needs of adult and elderly veterans, who are predominantly male and may suffer from a wide range of chronic physical, psychological, and emotional disabilities and communicable diseases. Key aspects of care involve addressing psychiatric conditions, depression, advanced dementia (including Alzheimer's disease), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and accompanying behavioral issues. CNAs in this role must exhibit a deep sense of compassion and flexibility, adeptly meeting the unique and varied needs of veterans to ensure their comfort, well-being, and the provision of personalized care. Job duties and responsibilities are various and may include related tasks as necessary.

• Provides and documents bedside care to veteran adult and geriatric patients based on their plan of care, their unique physical, psychosocial, emotional, and age-specific needs; provides input into the interdisciplinary process; and reports outcome of care.
• Provides daily patient care including bed/tub bath, mouth care, skin care, foot care, incontinent care, catheter care, dressing and grooming, meal set up and feeding, vital signs, weights, etc..
• Transfers, ambulates, maintains good positioning and body alignment, performs passive range of motion exercise.
• Follows each individual veterans' bowel/bladder program.
• Reports and documents all patient care activities, particularly any changes in patient's condition, skin, behavior, or habits.
• Demonstrates effective problem solving by utilizing good judgment and interpersonal skills to promote a professional, safe and productive environment.
• Reports complaints by patients or family members to supervisors (i.e. RNs, LPNs).
• Responds to emergencies.
• Transports patients to the dining room and other activities.
• May be required to accompany veterans to medical appointments off the Veterans' Home campus.
• Maintains competencies in all aspects of patient care, nursing assistant documentation, procedures, equipment, etc., to ensure the delivery of safe patient care and compliance with long term care regulatory standards.
• Communications with nursing and other departments. Participates in and shares information through inter-shift reports and gives input at staff meetings, etc.
• Skilled in the use of computers, email, shared network folders and contemporary nursing software including Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and others as required for completion of work assignments.
• Assists with recreational activities.
• Attends in-service programs to maintain current practice in nursing assistant trends and maintain/learn new techniques and equipment.
• Immediately reports problems, such as suspicious or alleged abuse, assaultive or inappropriate behavior, misappropriation, neglect, etc. to supervisors
• Familiarity with medical terminology, symbols, and commonly used abbreviations within a clinical environment.
• Understanding of safety protocols and procedures in alignment with facility guidelines.
• Regularly participates in at least one (1) facility committee as assigned.
• Provides support and guidance to CNA I's, CNA II's and CNA IIIs, collaborating across shifts to ensure policies, procedures and standards of care appropriately and consistently followed.
• Monitors the job performance provided by CNA I-IIIs to ensure established standards of care are upheld, corrects and reports observed deviations in acceptable practice to supervisors.
• Provides input to supervisors relative to job performance of other CNAs as part of the Employee Performance Review System (EPRS).
• Achieves competency for and takes resident vital signs, documenting findings and alerting supervisors of variations in patient's normal range.
• Facilitates the scheduling of staff for in-services and training.
• Works with education and quality team to identify and develop relevant training material for CNA staff.
• Under the guidance and direction of education and/or quality team, teach CNA-specific material and competencies at in-services and other trainings.
• Participates in interview panels for selected applicants for employment, completes interview grading form(s).
• Coordinates the attendance of other CNAs on interview panels and is responsible for gathering and submitting all documentation.
• Completes assigned audits related to CNA documentation as assigned and submits results to the designated leaders.
• Ensures appropriate and timely completion of audit forms by other CNAs and submits to the designated leader.
• Assists with orientation of newly hired CNAs to ensure practice is consistent with policies, procedures and standards of care; helps to create and maintain daily assignment sheets.
• Mentor and coach CNAs, including the teaching of CNA-specific documentation and material at orientation.
• Maintains veteran personal care plans to ensure adherence to plans for all residents on assigned unit.
• Supports quality initiatives through ongoing review and auditing of infection prevention and control practices.
• Support and participate in the IDC process.
• Conduct regular environmental audits.
• Complete monthly unit status reports.
• Attends monthly CNA IV and other related meetings.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Complete monthly unit status report(s).

• CNA Certification from an accredited Certified Nursing Assistant p rogram.
• CPR Certification from an American Heart Association compliant program.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience of a CNA in a healthcare setting, preferably at the Veterans Home at Holyoke or Chelsea