Patient Care Assistant (PCA), 8 East-Gastrointestinal, Part Time, Nights

Patient Care

• Engages in population appropriate communication.
• Has knowledge of growth and development milestones and tasks.
• Gives clear instructions to patients/family regarding treatment.
• Involves family/guardian in the assessment, initial treatment and continuing care of the patient.
• Identifies any physical limitations of the patient and deploys intervention when necessary.
• Recognizes and responds appropriately to patients/families with behavioral health problems.
• Interprets population related data and plans care appropriately.
• Identifies and responds appropriately to different needs resulting from, unique psychological needs or those associated with religious / cultural norms.
• Performs treatments, administers medication or operates equipment safely.
• Recognizes and responds to signs/symptoms of abuse or neglect.
• Measures vital signs, records observation of skin integrity, intake & output, height & weight (bedside or w/c scale); reports all changes including mental status.
• Specimen collection: routine urine, clean catch urine, 24-hour urine, collection of self-expectorant sputum.
• Assists with activities of daily living (ADL’s), skin care, tube and catheter care, turning, positioning, transfer and ambulating, range of motion (ROM), hot and cold compresses.
• Provides hygiene and comfort measures to include Bathing/showering, Pericare.
• Changes linens as needed.
• Empties drainage bags and records outputs, disposes of bodily fluids/waste.
• Utilizes patient care equipment such as manual/hydraulic/electronic lift/hoyer lift/bed scale.
• Removes and reapplies splints, braces, cervical collars, skin and skeletal traction, anti-embolic stockings.
• Performs post-mortem care.
• Distributes and removes food trays, sets up meal trays, positions and prepares patient for meals, assists and/or feeds patient, assists with menu selection, records calorie counts, provides snacks and fluids, monitors head of bed (HOB) with patients receiving tube feedings.
• Assists with turning, coughing and deep breathing; provides follow-up to incentive spirometry; reapplies O2 cannula/mask, provide portable oxygen tank for transport.
• May perform EKG’s, mobile care phlebotomy (MCP), and blood glucose.

Communication

• Communicates patient observations to RN timely and appropriately.
• Orients patients and visitors to room and unit and updates the white boards appropriately.
• Records measurements and patient data.
• Documents treatments and procedures performed.
• Responds to and utilizes nurse call system.
• Retrieves information from the computer.

Environment

• Facilitates the maintenance of a clean, safe and organized environment for patients and coworkers.
• Removes equipment when no longer in use to appropriate area for cleaning.
• Re-orders and stocks materials as necessary.
• Reports maintenance issues.

Teamwork

• Participates in patient admission, transfer and discharge.
• Demonstrates helpfulness, cooperation and respect for team members in pursuit of unprecedented patient care.

Safety Measures

• Ensures call lights are within reach of patients.
• Answers call lights promptly.
• Ensures placement of patient identification bands.
• Ensures that side rails and restraints are applied for patient safety and per policy.
• Uses proper body mechanics and universal precautions.