Care Attendant

Part-time, 24-hour/week position with varied shifts, including rotating weekends and holidays.

About the role

As a Care Attendant in our Emergency Department, you will provide one-on-one observation and maintain a constant, supportive presence for patients who may be at risk of falling, wandering, or experiencing behavioral health challenges. While observation is your main focus, you may also assist with basic patient care tasks such as hygiene, personal care, patient transfers, and other comfort measures as directed by the Registered Nurse.

Responsibilities

• Provides observation and direct patient care as directed by the RN, including but not limited to activities of daily living such as bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, and ambulating, as well as turning and repositioning patients.
• Maintains an environment conducive to patient safety and recovery, including completing safety checks, keeping the patient room clean and organized, cleaning patient-specific equipment, changing bed linens, and emptying linen hampers.
• Acquires and distributes supplies and equipment to facilitate patient care delivery, including performing messenger functions, ordering, charging/crediting supplies, setting up patient care equipment, and stocking patient rooms and unit supply areas.
• Delivers patient nourishments, fills water pitchers, and distributes patient mail as applicable if not directly with patient.
• Provides feedback to the RN regarding patient care and reports changes in patient status.
• Completes clerical functions as needed by the department.
• Requests assistance in planning and prioritizing activities, as needed.
• Assures equipment malfunctions are reported to the appropriate department.
• Contributes to universal patient activities including responding to telephones, assisting with meal trays, and accompanying patients during transport.
• Complies with safety policies and procedures including standard precautions and understands policies and procedures for blood-borne pathogen exposure.
• Strictly adheres to all policies and practices relative to patient care and hospital-related information.
• Responds within the scope of the Care Attendant role to emergent situations.
• Provides one-on-one companionship/supervision with patients.
• Performs in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• If no previous patient care training, successful completion of UPMC care attendant (sitter) training program.
• Knowledge of body mechanics and transfer techniques.
• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
• Work permit required if under 18 years of age.

Qualifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.