VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION
HOME CARE AIDE/HOMEMAKER
SUPERVISES: No one
REPORTS TO: Clinical Services Manager, VNA Professional Home Care Staff
WORKS CLOSELY WITH: Social Worker, VNA Professional Home Care Staff ,
Senior Home Care Aides, Home Helpers, Team Assistants
EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Non exempt, hourly
SUMMARY OF DUTIES: The Home Care Aide/Homemaker (HCA/HMK) provides assistance
with activities of daily living, treatments which are ordinarily self administered, and instrumental
activities of daily living which an individual is unable to carry out due to a temporary or
permanent disability. The HCA/HMK also functions as a trained and substitute caregiver when a
household experiences stress or crisis precipitated by absence, incapacity or limitations of the
usual caregiver. Home Care Aide services focus on maintaining and improving the individual’s
ability to care for herself or himself, and on promoting community living with a personal feeling
of wellbeing in a safe environment. Components of service include but are not limited to:
personal care services, essential shopping, housekeeping and laundry, respite care, money
management, consumer education, parenting skills and family management.
JOB REQUIREMENTS: Successful completion of at least 60 hours of Home Care
Aide/Homemaking training, OR 75 hour certified nurse aide course work, and successful
completion of a competency test as approved by the National HomeCare Council, the Iowa
Department of Public Health and by this agency. Required is a physical examination completed
at the time of employment and as requested by VNA with a physician’s statement of the
employee’s ability to perform the duties of the job. Annual TB testing is required. Car, adequate
liability insurance and current driver’s license are required. All offers of employment are
conditioned upon the result of a criminal background check conducted by the Iowa Division of
Criminal Investigation, as required by law and a negative finding on the Office of Inspector
General’s Excluded Provider List.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND EQUIPMENT: Work is performed in clients’ homes, or other
locales where the client might be, with the employee driving from home to home and getting in
and out of the car numerous times during the work period. Clients’ homes are located throughout
Johnson County and within a fifty mile radius of the agency; the driving requirements include intown and highway driving in good and inclement weather.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: The employee will demonstrate the ability to communicate
effectively in the English language both verbally and in writing, the ability to successfully
complete a competency test (written and activity) and organizational skills required to manage
several client appointments each workday.
PHYSICAL/COGNITIVE DEMANDS: The employee will perform the duties of the job at
clients’ homes during the work period. These duties include bathing activities, performing
prescribed exercises, assisting with ambulating and transferring clients from one place to another,
performing homemaking tasks including vacuuming, grocery shopping, laundry, etc. The duties
require the ability to lift greater than 50 lbs on a regular basis and the ability to maintain stable
balance while performing job duties, especially during tasks associated with patient ambulation
and transfers. The duties also require the ability to reach, bend, push, pull, climb stairs, drive,
etc., with or without the use of assistive/adaptive devices.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES: To be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.
The following duties are normal for this position. While this list is intended to be an
accurate reflection of the job, it is not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other
duties may be required and assigned by the employer.
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS/ PATIENT CARE
1. Provides direct service to clients of all ages in their homes according to according
to a physician plan of care and an Aide Care Plan established by Clinical Services
Manager or VNA Professional Staff. Routine personal care duties include
assistance with bathing- showers, tub baths, sponge and bed baths; assisting with
or supervising patient ambulation, assisting with transfers- from standby
assistance to full assistance, including the use of lifts or transfer assist devices at
times; assisting with range of motion and exercises, assisting with grooming, and
assisting with dressing and undressing.
2. Maintains a safe, secure, and healthy patient environment by following infection
control standards and procedures; changing linens, dusting, vacuuming;
maintaining kitchen and bathroom facilities, handling personal laundry;
maintaining security.
3. Provides nutritious meals by following prescribed dietary requirements and
nutrition standards; preparing, cooking, and serving meals and snacks.
4. Administers treatments by changing bandages, assisting with care of urinary
devices, ostomies, assisting with application of supportive garments, splints, etc.
under the supervision of a nurse or therapist, and assisting with other procedures
as assigned. Assists patients with medications that are ordinarily selfadministered (within agency policies). Helps remind patients of assisted living
techniques, and assists with such techniques as using a cane or walker, using
special utensils to eat, or using special techniques and equipment for personal
hygiene needs.
5. Helps family members care for the patient by introducing and teaching
appropriate ways to lift, turn, and re-position the patient.
COMMUNICATION & DOCUMENTATION
6. Maintains continuity of care by documenting and communicating actions on flow
sheets.
7. Communicates changes in client condition in timely fashion to supervisor or case
manager verbally and in writing.
8. Promptly notifies Clinical Services Managers of any complaints that impact
quality of care.
9. Immediately notifies Clinical Services Managers of any patient incident, and
immediately notifies Human Resources or managers above of any employee
incident that occurs during work hours. Completes documentation of incident
report according to agency policies and in timely manner.
10. Completes daily time sheets and documentation accurately and submits to Team
Assistants according to the established schedule.
11. Communicates respectfully and appropriately with clients, supervisors, and
coworkers and demonstrates the ability to develop rapport and maintain strong
working relationships with client, peers, and management.
COOPERATION & TEAMWORK
12. Assists in providing feedback to supervisors regarding the adequacy,
appropriateness and effectiveness of service in meeting client needs.
13. Accepts supervision and follows the guidelines established by the VNA.
14. Manages duties as assigned with minimal guidance or supervision.
15. Is alert for opportunities for performance improvement and works effectively with
supervisors and coworkers to continually improve home care aide services and
present a positive image of the Visiting Nurse Association and its employees.
SCHEDULING
16. Follows schedule of visits. Informs office promptly of any schedule changes and
any openings for additional clients. Contacts VNA office with any difficulties in
following schedule, and notifies VNA supervisor prior to start of work day (by
7:00 AM) if unable to carry out duties for the day.
17. Demonstrates flexibility by adjusting readily to changing priorities.
18. Participates in the On Call rotation as assigned.
POLICY COMPLIANCE
19. Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities such as
adding new competencies and attending agency In-Services.
20. Completes 12 hours of In-Service training per year, as approved by VNA
management.
21. Protects the agency and clients by adhering to professional standards, agency
policies and procedures, and all federal, state, and local requirements.
22. Keeps client, employee, and strategic agency information confidential.
23. Complies with personnel record keeping requirements (e.g. auto insurance
documentation, licensure) on a timely basis.
24. Maintains current CPR training.
25. Performs other duties as necessary, including required participation in VNA
emergency/ disaster plans.
Employee Acknowledgement:
My signature on this form shall acknowledge receipt of the job description for my
employment with the Visiting Nurse Association.
I have read the job description to familiarize myself with general information and
responsibilities. All of my current questions regarding this job description have been
answered.
I understand that as part of my job responsibilities I may be assigned duties other than
those currently described in my job description, including responding to an emergency
event. In an emergency event, I understand my responsibilities may change.
I understand that I must be able to perform all of these job responsibilities with, or
without, reasonable accommodations. I also recognize that if I need reasonable
accommodations, I must inform the VNA in writing.
My signature below represents that I can perform this job with or without reasonable
accommodations and am aware that I will need to participate in VNA's
Emergency/Disaster Plan if an emergency event occurs.
I understand and acknowledge that any misrepresentation or false information will be
considered grounds for dismissal from the VNA.
Employee Signature:_______________________ Date:_________________________
Rev. 4/98, 2/99, 4/01, 7/01, 6/02, 10/03, 11/03, 3/06, 3/07, 8/08, 3/12, 2/13