RESIDENT ASSISTANT
Resident Assistant
Job Description, Duties, and Requirements
The Resident Assistant is a non-licensed individual who assists residents with the activities of daily living and for assisting as needed to accomplish the goals of the facility.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Performs mouth, eye and hair care to include denture care and shaving of male residents.
- Performs bath and back care to include partial or complete baths, showers, sitz baths and tub baths.
- Makes beds daily and follows linen change schedule.
- Assists in food service: serves trays, assists in feeding residents, feeds if necessary, picks up trays and records food intake, serves interval nourishments.
- Serves ice and fresh water and maintains aseptic environment.
- Recognizes and observes NPO signs or other restrictions on fluid intake, eg: no hot or ice liquids.
- Assists with toilet needs.
- Demonstrates knowledge of body mechanics.
- Remains aware of residents placed on limited motion.
- Assists residents with progressive activity: dangle, stand by bed, sit in chair and walk.
- Gives proper skin care constantly observing pressure areas for bedsores and reports immediately.
- Assists patient in and out of bed.
- Assists with ambulation.
- Checks and records vital signs, blood pressure, TPR.
- Weighs resident as indicated.
- Administers emergency resuscitation of residents in cardiac arrest.
- Assists in emergency admission, care and evacuation of residents in a disaster.
- Supervises self-administration of medications.
- Assists in maintaining cleanliness, order, and an attractive environment at all times.
- Provides necessary equipment at resident’s bedside.
- Insures clean and safe surrounding.
- Adjusts side rails according to established procedure.
- Collects and disposes of trash according to procedure.
- Cares for soiled and contaminated linens according to procedure.
- Inventories and maintenances supplies and equipment.
- Assists with resident laundry.
- Documents signs, symptoms and statements made by residents or family.
- Documents request from the residents or family.
- Reports accidents or injuries sustained by self, residents or visitors.
- Documents care according to procedure.
- Listens to change of shift report.
- Evaluates self-care abilities/limitations and identifies need for additional safety measures.
- Evaluates and documents for signs/symptoms of abuse and neglect.
- Assesses and interprets data relative to resident’s age.
- Recognizes anxiety regarding potential changes in lifestyle resulting from illness.
- Addresses resident appropriately.
- Provides for resident’s privacy.
- Respects resident’s right to refuse treatment.
- Assesses for limiting conditions (vision, hearing, elimination, etc.).
- Implements skin integrity and/or risk to fall protocols.
- Allows residents to discuss thoughts and plans related to death and dying.
- Assesses nutritional intake.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to compile, code and categorize, or verify information/data
- Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
- Ability to determine appropriate course of action in more complex situation
- Ability to work independently, exercise creativity, and maintain a positive attitude
- Ability to manage multiple and simultaneous responsibilities and to prioritize scheduling of work
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of all medical, financial, and legal information
- Ability to complete work assignments accurately and in a timely manner
- Ability to communicate effectively, with excellent verbal and written communication skills
Non-Essential Functions
- Perform other duties as assigned or requested.
Professional Requirements
- Adhere to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
- Complete annual education requirements.
- Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
- Report to work on time and as scheduled.
- Wear identification while on duty.
- Maintain regulatory requirements, including all state, federal and local regulations.
- Represent the organization in a positive and professional manner at all times.
- Comply with all organizational policies and standards regarding ethical business practices.
- Participate in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities.
- Attend regular staff meetings and in-services as needed.
Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions
- May need to stand for up to 6-8 hours at a time
- Physically demanding, high-stress environment
- MUST BE ABLE TO PASS PROXY CARE
- MUST BE ABLE TO WORK IN A FAST PACES ENVIORNMENT