1. Companion

PRIMARY FUNCTION:   Provides direct patient care services to hospice and respite patients and supportive care to the patients’ families served by Hospice House of Williamsburg. Helps maintain the therapeutic environment and performs basic housekeeping duties.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provides patients’ personal hygiene by giving bedpans, urinals, baths, backrubs, shampoos, and shaves; assists with travel to the bathroom; helps with showers and baths. Provides for patient’s activities of daily living by assisting with serving meals, feeding patients as necessary; ambulating, turning, and positioning patients; providing fresh water and nourishment between meals. Provides adjunct care by administering medications ordered by the medical hospice agency. Provides patient comfort by using resources and materials; answering patients’ call lights and requests; reporting observations of the patient to the Clinical Director or the On-Call RN. Performs assigned housekeeping duties to maintain cleanliness of patient quarters according to infection control procedures and other housekeeping duties throughout the house and property as assigned.

SCHEDULE:  Schedules will vary and may be full-time, part-time or PRN.   Must be able to work 12 hour shifts and be available for both day and night, evenings and weekends.

QUALIFICATIONS:  CNA license. Will also consider completion of freshman year as a nursing student. Open toward hospice philosophy and comfortable working with individuals who are dying.   Able to provide physical care and the activities described above as needed to individuals who are bed bound and unable to assist in their own care. Able to assist and empathize with family members who have primary responsibility for the patient’s care. Able to work a flexible schedule. Successful completion of Hospice House education for medication administration and post-employment offer criminal background check and drug test.