Health Assisting Standards and Skills

Skills:

1. Identify the general principles of first aid.
2. Identify and demonstrate skills for medical emergencies.
3. Identify and demonstrate skills for injury emergencies.
4. Identify and demonstrate skills for environmental emergencies.
5. Demonstrate how to control severe, uncontrollable external bleeding with a manufactured tourniquet.
6. Students will demonstrate direct pressure to control external bleeding.
7. Describe and demonstrate skills required to obtain Healthcare Provider CPR.
8. Describe and demonstrate adult CPR.
9. Describe and demonstrate pediatric CPR.
10. Describe and demonstrate skills for the removal of foreign-body airway obstruction.
11. Identify and demonstrate the use of automated external defibrillation with CPR.
12. Interview patients to gather medical information, identify patient symptoms via telephone and/or face-to-face triage.
13. Evaluate and record incident/variance reports based on injuries.
14. Employ medical emergency protocols in office/facility including activation of EMS and notification of appropriate medical personnel.

Skills:

1. Identify settings, essential functions, and similarities and differences of health care facilities, (e.g., acute care, long-term care, assisted living, homecare, rehabilitation, and hospice).
2. Explain the organizational structure and essential duties, including delegation process of the healthcare team within a healthcare facility [e.g., physician, physician’s assistant, RN, LPN, nursing assistant, nurse practitioner, discharge coordinator, home health aide, and therapists (physical, occupational, and respiratory)].
3. Identify the kinds of professional healthcare workers and their credentialing requirements.
4. Examine ethical and legal issues and the standards for healthcare professions (e.g., nursing code of ethics, facility ethical protocol, and appropriate legal documents).
5. Demonstrate professional and ethical behavior in clinical practice.
6. Describe the role of the mandated reporter.

1. Utilize proper medical terminology (spoken and written) and abbreviations to interpret and communicate information, data, and observations.
2. Explain technical medical information and procedures to patients.
3. Demonstrate telephone etiquette appropriate to a health care setting.
4. Identify communication barriers and adapt to patient’s needs to convey information effectively and promote a positive atmosphere.
5. Demonstrate verbal communication.
6. Demonstrate non-verbal communication.
7. Adapt communication according to the patient’s needs.
8. Identify communication barriers.
9. Verbally report resident status according to industry standards.
10. Using industry standard software to maintain and record technical information in a resident’s chart.
11. Employ digital responsibility.
12. Describe how to process the correction of an error in a resident’s chart.
13. List reasons for the use of electronic medical records for documentation of assessments and interventions for resident care.
14. Complete incident/variance report.
15. List strategies to consistently maintain resident dignity and privacy.
16. Demonstrate respect for cultural diversity, spiritual beliefs, and personal orientation.
17. Demonstrate compassion and professionalism to accommodate patients with special needs.
18. Monitor patients to detect health problems and changes to their emotional wellbeing.
19. Monitor and assess yourself, your ability to follow instructions from the charge nurse, ability to document tasks, provide quality care, and make improvements or take corrective action.

1. Obtain and record body temperature in Celsius/Fahrenheit.
2. List sites to obtain body temperature.
3. Demonstrate counting and recording respirations.
4. Obtain and record pulse.
5. Locate the eight pulse sites.
6. Obtain and record respiratory rate.
7. Demonstrate the use of an incentive spirometry and identify the benefits of its use.
8. Demonstrate approved methods of measuring and recording patient blood pressure and pulse oximetry (orthostatic, manually, and electric).
9. Identify and report abnormal vital signs.
10. Obtain and report pain by utilization of a pain scale.
11. Obtain and report pulse oximetry.
12. Explain the method and use of the capillary refill procedure.
13. Measure and record height (cm/inches).
14. Measure and record weight (kg/pounds).
15. Demonstrate procedure for measuring finger stick blood sugar.
16. Manage inventory control procedures including restocking supplies, rotating stock, and checking expiration dates.
17. Administer basic health care or medical treatments including giving medication and applying bandages, dressing, or splints.
18. Assist with diagnostic testing, medical procedures, and examinations.
19. Analyze patient medical data to understand patient needs and treatment goals.
20. Describe cleaning and care procedures for patient rooms, treatment rooms, patient/resident beds, and patient/resident belongings.
21. Demonstrate safe skin care measures.
22. Identify high risk areas for skin breakdown.
23. Identify the structures of the skin affected by Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, and Stage 4 pressure ulcers.
24. Recognize risk factors and describe interventions used to prevent pressure ulcers.
25. Safely assist a resident with nutrition and hydration.
26. Identify principles of nutrition.
27. Setup and serve resident’s meal.
28. Identify and prepare appropriate meals for a resident according to their prescribed diet as noted on their care plan.
29. Differentiate between various therapeutic diets.
30. Prepare the resident for mealtime.
31. Identify alternative feeding methods for dependent residents.
32. Assist in helping residents feed self.
33. Feed resident requiring complete assistance.
34. Identify adaptive equipment for residents with physical disabilities.
35. Measure, calculate, and record the resident`s intake of fluids using approved documentation.
36. Describe and report signs of dehydration.
37. Identify roles and responsibilities for the care of a resident with tube feeding.
38. Describe the safe care that is provided throughout the end-of-life period.
39. List actions to provide emotional support to the resident and their family throughout the end of life.
40. List the stages of grieving.
41. Explain the differences between advanced directives according to state and federal regulations.
42. Compare and contrast palliative and hospice care.
43. Demonstrate post-mortem care procedures.

Skills:

1. Demonstrate safe procedures used when responding to resident needs.
2. Demonstrate the importance of responding to residents’ needs in a timely, compassionate, and professional manner.
3. List strategies to consistently maintain resident dignity and privacy.
4. Identify resident positions and list the reasons for their use.
5. Demonstrate procedures used to position residents.
6. Demonstrate and safely assist the resident with activities of daily living.
7. Identify and list ways to encourage independence in personal care for the client.
8. Demonstrate bed making appropriate to patient`s needs.
9. Demonstrate personal hygiene appropriate to the resident’s needs.
10. Demonstrate the assistance of dressing/undressing appropriate to the resident’s needs.  
11. Demonstrate daily routine hair care.
12. Demonstrate routine foot care.
13. Demonstrate fingernail care.
14. Demonstrate the assistance of safe shower practices appropriate to the resident’s needs.
15. Demonstrate complete bed bath.
16. Differentiate between complete and partial bed bath.
17. Describe procedures used with a whirlpool bath.
18. Describe the procedure for providing a chlorohexidine (CHG) bath.
19. Demonstrate resident skin care.
20. Identify and report skin problems including the four major stages of decubitus ulcer.
21. Demonstrate safe shaving practice.
22. Demonstrate denture care.
23. Demonstrate oral hygiene appropriate to the resident’s needs.
24. Explain the use and care of hearing appliances.
25. Explain the care of glasses.
26. Assist, perform safely, and document skills related to elimination.
27. Assist residents to the bathroom.
28. Demonstrate use of a bedpan.
29. Demonstrate use of a urinal.
30. Explain the use and demonstrate the maintenance of a commode.
31. List reasons for establishing and maintaining a toileting schedule for a resident.
32. Demonstrate emptying of a urinary drainage bag.
33. Demonstrate urinary catheter care.
34. Demonstrate application of a condom catheter.
35. Identify and report urine abnormalities.
36. Demonstrate straining urine when required.
37. Demonstrate application and care of an ostomy drainage system.
38. Demonstrate skincare around an ostomy site.
39. Identify and report stool abnormalities.
40. Record output according to facility policy.
41. Explain the guidelines for collecting a specimen.
42. Perform urine dipstick.
43. Perform occult blood testing.
44. Provide skin care for the incontinent resident.
45. Describe and document bowel movements.

1. Demonstrate the safe performance of special procedures.
2. Determine the purpose and procedure for active and passive range of motion exercises (PROM).
3. Demonstrate sizing, application, and removal of elastic stockings.
4. Demonstrate the application and removal of compression devices.
5. Demonstrate the measurement of the calf and thigh per facility’s vascular protocol.
6. Demonstrate procedure for applying and removing restraints.
7. Describe roles and responsibilities when caring for a resident with restraints.
8. Demonstrate the use and maintenance of alarm devices.
9. Describe the roles and responsibilities of a resident with an alarm device.
10. Prepare and assist residents for physical examination.
11. Identify positions used for special examinations.
12. Demonstrate the use of transfer/Gait Belt.
13. Identify, use, and fit assistive devices and techniques to aid in ambulating residents (e.g., crutches, cane, walker, wheelchair, dangling, and gait belt).
14. Demonstrate safe use of a wheelchair.
15. Assist residents to transfer from bed to chair/wheelchair and chair/wheelchair to bed using pivot and ambulatory techniques and transfer belt.
16. Demonstrate the transfer of a resident with a mechanical lift following all state and federal requirements.
17. Demonstrate the transfer of a resident from bed to stretcher, and stretcher to bed.
18. Demonstrate use of a stretcher.
19. Demonstrate application of limb and chest electrodes and perform a 12-lead EKG.
20. Identify EKG artifacts and troubleshoot machine failure.
21. Identify guidelines for oxygen safety.
22. Demonstrate procedure for post-void residual using a bladder scan.
23. Demonstrate the procedures to empty various drains.
24. Describe and demonstrate the safety factors involved in the use of hot and cold applications.

Skills:

1. Provide safe care to residents with cognitive, social, and behavioral needs.
2. Demonstrate respect and cultural competency for diverse populations.
3. Describe and report different types of cognitive changes, including age-related, mild impairment, dementia, and delirium.
4. Identify and report common behavioral health symptoms often experienced by residents.
5. Demonstrate safety techniques used in caring for residents with cognitive, social, and behavioral needs.
6. Describe effective communications and interventions used in caring for residents with cognitive, social, and behavioral needs.
7. Identify, provide, and maintain precautions for non-violent, violent, and suicidal residents.
8. Recognize and report the need for intervention in caring for a resident with substance abuse.
9. Identify and report the signs and symptoms of abuse.
10. Describe modifications to care for a bariatric resident.

Skills:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development.
2. Categorize optimal nutritional needs across the lifespan.
3. List factors that promote a healthy pregnancy.
4. Describe Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and provide examples of how the needs of each level are met.
5. Describe the stages of growth and development across the lifespan.
6. Explain the principles for respecting sexuality and intimacy across the lifespan.
7. Explain ways to support spirituality across the lifespan.
8. List health promoting activities across the lifespan.
9. Identify procedures used with pediatric residents and residents with special needs.
10. Identify and describe the major body systems, organs, cell functions, anatomical terms, and tissues (e.g., nervous, connective, muscular, and epithelial).
11. Identify normal and abnormal structures, functions, signs, and symptoms within body systems.
12. Identify reference areas of the body as they identify body planes, directional terms, abdominal regions and quadrants, body cavities and their contents.
13. Identify the structure and function of each body system.
14. Describe age related changes and ways to support each body system.
15. Examine homeostasis, disease, and disorder as it relates to body systems.