Nursing Fundamentals: Nurse Aide Responsibilities

Study Notes

Nurse aides are valued, unlicensed members of the healthcare team providing care across various settings: hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.
They must operate within a defined range of function determined by the North Carolina Board of Nursing, which ensures safety and compliance.

Nurse aides must be registered on the NC Nurse Aide I Registry to practice legally.
The North Carolina Health Care Personnel Registry oversees regulatory compliance.

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987 established federal requirements for nurse aide training and competency evaluations to enhance the quality of life for nursing home residents.

Basic Nursing Skills: Essential for delivering competent care, requiring adherence to the residents' care plans and effective reporting of findings.
Personal Care Skills: Involves assisting with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as hygiene, grooming, dressing, eating, and transferring, conducted with a focus on privacy.
Morning Care (AM Care): Includes toileting, facial wash, and oral care before breakfast.
Evening Care (PM Care): Involves toileting, facial wash, snack, oral care, and back rubs in the evening.

Nurse aides should empathize, anticipate needs, display patience, and treat residents as unique individuals while being sensitive to their moods.

Nurse aides must refrain from:
- Performing sterile procedures or administering medications.
- Inserting/removing tubes or providing medical diagnoses.
- Taking orders from physicians or supervising other aides.
- Engaging in tasks outside their defined range of function.

Follow the chain of command to maintain accountability and protect against staff liability.
Delegation involves assigning responsibilities while retaining overall accountability and ensuring the "Five Rights of Delegation" are met.

Exhibit professionalism through punctuality, appropriate dress, good hygiene, and minimal jewelry, adhering to facility policies regarding appearance.

Trustworthy, conscientious, courteous, empathetic, humble, and unprejudiced to ensure care is equitable and of high quality.

Effective teamwork relies on a common purpose, clear communication, trust, and problem-solving capabilities within the team.
Types of nursing teams include Team Nursing, Primary Nursing, Functional Nursing, and Person-centered Care.

Focuses on individual resident needs, preferences, and expectations to foster a sense of home.
Aims to recognize residents' uniqueness, support independence, and involve them in decision-making processes, enhancing their quality of life.