Patient Care Assistant (PCA), Full-time, First Shift

About the role

At UC Health, we're proud to have the best and brightest teams and clinicians collaborating toward our common purpose: to advance healing and reduce suffering. As the region's adult academic health system, we strive for innovation and provide world-class care for not only our community, but patients from all over the world. Join our team and you'll be able to develop your skills, grow your career, build relationships with your peers and patients, and help us be a source of hope for our friends and neighbors.

Location: Cincinnati, OH, United States

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• No license or certification required.
• 0‑6 months of experience required (minimum).
• Preferred: 1‑2 years equivalent experience.
• One of the following is required:
  • State Tested Nursing Aide Training;
  • Acute Medical Surgical Training;
  • Hospital Specific Training.
• May be a student from an accredited RN program that has successfully completed a medical surgical rotation or another acute care rotation.
• If candidates do not meet the above, they must successfully complete the UC Health competency training for PCAs and additional orientation before being permitted to care for patients.

Skills

Trained and maintains proficiency in AHA CPR and patient care skills. Completes unit‑specific hospital safety education.

Responsibilities

• Patient Population – (Clinical Only): 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 assessment, initial treatment and continuing care; identifies any physical limitations 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.
• Provides all patient care in a manner that is culturally‑based and age‑specific.
• Measures vital signs, records observation of skin integrity, intake & output, height & weight (bedside or wheelchair 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 (ADLs), skin care, tube and catheter care, turning, positioning, transfer and ambulating, range of motion (ROM), hot and cold compresses.
• Provides hygiene and comfort measures including bathing/showering, perineal care.
• 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)