Patient Care Assistant, Part time Nights, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Bronson Methodist Hospital

About the role

Under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, and in accordance with defined policies and procedures for the unit, the Patient Care Assistant (PCA) provides technical patient care to a defined patient population, as assigned by the Registered Nurse. Duties may include the performance of basic technical skills not requiring licensure, such as gathering patient data, assisting patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), transporting patients, supporting department maintenance activities (stocking patient rooms, moving equipment, ordering and procuring supplies, etc.), and providing basic customer services as needed.

Employees providing direct patient care must demonstrate competencies specific to the population served.

Orientation Requirement

Full-Time, Part-Time, and PRN hires must be able to commit to full-time hours (three 12-hour day shifts, 7:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.) during the first 6–8 weeks of orientation.

Responsibilities

• Provides information, direction, and assistance as appropriate
• Maintains patient/employee safety by following controlled access policies
• Communicates in a timely manner with the RN regarding patient status, interventions completed, data collected, and pertinent input to facilitate care planning
• Answers call lights, phones, or intercom system to determine patients' needs
• Serves and collects food trays and feeds patients requiring help
• Provides appropriate assistance to the patient during activities of daily living
• Prepares patients for surgery and/or procedures properly
• Reviews plan of care at beginning of shift with RN and PRN for every assigned patient
• Accompanies patients for diagnostic tests, at discharge, and/or assists patients to ambulate
• Turns and repositions patients using safe patient handling techniques
• Obtains vital patient information as directed (e.g., temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates, and food/fluid intake/output, and calorie counts)
• Documents findings in EMR in a timely, accurate, and concise manner
• Participates in the Patient Admission Process through timely and accurate performance of assigned duties
• Provides skilled technical care according to unit-specific and generic structure standards, protocols and procedures, prescribed medical interventions, and nursing guidelines as delegated by the RN
• Maintains a clean and orderly environment, ensuring patient safety and comfort at all times
• Assumes responsibility for own growth and development; attends staff meetings
• Manages incoming tubes from tube station and delivers meds or other items to the RN or medication room
• Meets Bronson’s Standards of Excellence
• Supports the goals of the unit and participates in department performance improvement
• Follows organizational guidelines for effective hand hygiene consistently
• Restocks supplies as appropriate and stores equipment in defined locations
• Maintains unsupervised access to the unit medication room(s) for stocking and/or retrieving supplies

Requirements

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required
• Previous experience and CNA license preferred
• Obtain BLS Certification by the end of the orientation period; maintain BLS certification
• Basic medical terminology knowledge preferred
• Skill and proficiency in oral and written grammar, communication, and basic mathematics
• Work which produces levels of mental/visual fatigue typical of jobs that perform a wide variety of duties with frequent and significant uncontrollable deadlines
• Work may include the operation of and full attention to a personal computer or CRT up to 40 percent of the time
• Involves regularly lifting bulky or moderately heavy weights (i.e., up to 50 pounds), and occasionally assisting with heavier tasks or expending equivalent effort in pushing, pulling, or otherwise handling material, equipment, and other objects

Qualifications Specific to NICU

• Trained in Unit Dose Feeds
• Performs a variety of tasks that relate to preparing, portioning, labeling, and delivering patient feedings per feeding order
• PCA's must adhere to all food safety/sanitation regulations and standards established by the hospital

Schedule

• 12-hour night shift
• Part time
• Scheduled weekly hours: 24