Patient Care Associate-GP 6 West-Mount Sinai Hospital-Part-time Night-11:15pm–7:15am, EOW

About the role

The Patient Care Associate plays a crucial role in the clinical care team, supporting registered nurses in various patient care activities.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates ability to perform clinical/technical/service/administrative tasks.
• Performs and records patient’s vital signs, such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respirations.
• Obtains patient’s rating on pain scales as a fifth vital sign in all areas except Pediatrics.
• Performs clinical procedures, such as specimen collection including blood glucose, venipuncture, EKG, application of compression devices, post-mortem care, and maintenance of skin integrity.
• Sets up for selected procedures and assists RN’s accordingly.
• Assists patient with activities of daily living, such as feeding, bathing, and toileting.
• Orients Patients to clinical environment.
• Ambulates and assists with mobility as needed.
• Maintains a safe, clean, and functional environment, including ensuring patient comfort and room maintenance.
• Performs on-to-one observation or close observation status of patients, e.g., safety, elopement risk, or suicide prevention.
• Maintains “isolation status” for patients under direction of an RN and according to set procedures.
• Schedules hourly care checks/rounding on patients with emphasis on toileting needs, comfort, and positioning and pain awareness.
• Notifies RN if rounding has not been completed.
• Utilizes Vocera system/Mount Sinai phone according to sign in/sign out protocol where activated.
• Performs other duties as assigned, including generating reports.
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, and significant others.
• Provides information as appropriate.
• Answers Patient Call System and refers calls to appropriate staff.
• Maintains a safe, clean and functional environment, including removing trash and bringing physical plant and equipment problems to the attention of the managers.
• Transports patients to stretchers or wheelchairs, as required.
• Delivers and collects trays and bedside, delivers flowers to patients.
• Strips units/cubicles.
• Performs emergency clean-up.
• Performs emergency transport.
• Disposes of specimens.
• Updates communication board/discharge log.
• Assembles medical records.
• Updates Admission/Transfer/Discharge System/Processes.
• Maintains supplies and care of equipment.
• Participates in the department’s performance improvement activities.
• Maintains patient/employee confidentiality in the management of information.
• Observes the Health Care System’s compliance policies.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma (graduate or equivalent).
• Certificate of completion of a medical assistant/patient care assistant program/equivalent with skills in venipuncture and EKG.
• Interpersonal skills to communicate and collaborate effectively with other members of the Specialty Service.
• Three to nine months of healthcare experience preferred.
• Ability to set priorities, problem solve, use proper judgement in difficult situations and be flexible.
• Sufficient oral and writing skills in the English language in order to communicate effectively.
• Physical stamina and manual dexterity to perform a variety of tasks and skills in the area of assignment.
• American Heart Association Heartsaver or BLS Certification.