Certified Nursing Assistant (#MDCD02)

This is nursing/therapeutic support work implementing treatment plans developed by professional staff. Work typically involves caring for one or more clients/patients/residents experiencing acute or chronic disabilities including one or multiple physical, mental, developmental disorders.

Positions typically report to a professional superior. Professional staff delegate work and review as needed. Work includes certified nursing/therapeutic care and assisted daily living activities with focus on development/retention/rehabilitation of daily living skills. Significant to this work is the ability to recognize and describe subtle changes in client/patient/resident physical/emotional condition and report/record those changes. Employees assigned to positions requiring certification will attend training to retain Certified Nursing Assistant designation. 

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Provides mentoring/orientation for newly hired/less experienced staff ensuring assignments are completed.
   
• Leads individual/group therapeutic processes/discussions involving reality orientation, sensory stimulation, range of motion exercise, and application of splints/braces.
   
• Participates on interdisciplinary care team providing information about the individual's overall physical condition, abilities, and behavioral characteristics.
   
• Ensures aseptic integrity of feeding, catheter, and respiratory tubes/devices while assisting individual with personal hygiene.
   
• Monitors/records temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, nutritional intake/output. Alerts professional staff to significant physical/behavioral  changes/irregularities.
   
• Provides oral/written description of individual's physical/behavioral change.
   
• Observes client/patient/resident activities, recording/reporting unusual/hazardous behavior.  Conducts periodic rounds to ensure safety/well being of clients/patients/residents. Provides written/oral reports to describe unusual incidents.
   
• Escorts/is responsible for individuals' traveling to social/recreational activities and medical appointments on/off campus.
   
• Applies appropriate interventions to prevent or de-escalate inappropriate behaviors.

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA’s listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class.

• Knowledge of facility standards and procedures for client/patient/resident care. 
• Knowledge of facility safety practices and proper equipment use.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of leadership.
• Knowledge of basic procedures for taking/recording temperatures, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.
• Knowledge of basic nursing procedures including personal hygiene, skin care, nutritional intake/output
• Knowledge of basic anatomy/physiology involving respiratory, circulatory, digestive, urinary, musculo skeletal, endocrine, nerve, intellectual, sensory, and reproductive systems
• Skill in implementing therapeutic methods/techniques that encourage/support physical mobility/daily living skills.
• Skill in recognizing situations requiring the immediate attention of professional staff.
• Skill in providing technical support/instruction/guidance for less experienced staff.
• Skill in client/patient/resident interaction to deal with complex psychosocial needs.
• Skill in appropriate interventions to prevent/de-escalate inappropriate behaviors.
• Ability to communicate oral/written reports concerning care activities/changing conditions.
• Ability to follow oral/written instructions concerning care requirements/plan.
• Ability to observe/identify unusual behavior/condition posing a health/safety threat. 

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Certified Nursing Assistant
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

1. Possession of a Delaware certification as a Nursing Assistant or eligibility for a Delaware certification.