Patient Care Associate - Mother Baby - PT Days with Benefits (7am-3:30pm)

About the role

At Hackensack Meridian Health, Patient Care Associates function as caregivers for a specific patient population to achieve desired outcomes. Under the direction and supervision of the registered nurse, they promote patient satisfaction, comfort, and safety while assisting with a variety of patient, unit, and environment-related tasks. This role also serves as Unit Services Representative, acting as a welcome ambassador to facilitate positive guest relations with patients, family members, visitors, and physicians, and performing clerical support for the unit and Nurse Manager.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient care appropriate to the age of the patients served in the assigned service, ensuring effective and safe outcomes through practice, judgment, and critical actions.
• Communicate ongoing patient status and care rendered to patients, nurses, and other healthcare team members.
• Take initiative to ensure patient satisfaction and participate in interdisciplinary collaboration from admission to discharge.
• Participate in unit and departmental quality and safety initiatives.
• Welcome patients, verify identification bracelets, and prepare patients for assessment, physical examination, and procedures.
• Take vital signs under the direction of the RN and document electronically according to policy; report abnormal results immediately.
• Perform glucose finger stick/heel stick and collect specimens (stool, urine, sputum) when directed by the RN.
• Observe and document patient intake and output; provide hygiene and comfort care including bathing, toileting, feeding, and bed making.
• Ensure a safe patient environment by promptly responding to call lights and communicating changes in patient condition to the RN.
• Accurately identify delivering parent/significant other and infant; obtain and document patient weight, height/length, and head circumference as appropriate.
• Assist with meal setup and feeding as needed; download glucometer and transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) information per established policies.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skill to provide age-appropriate care; recognize opportunities to enhance patient satisfaction.
• Maintain BLS certification and initiate interventions in emergent situations; assist with patient transport and act as a patient sitter when needed.
• Assist patients and families with non-clinical questions and personal needs; provide clerical support for Advance Directives including documentation and collaboration with The Office of Patient Experience.
• Manage public displays of patient satisfaction information; orient families to the unit, room, and hospital policies including television, telephone, meal ordering, visiting policy, parking, and discharge options.
• Act as a service recovery champion by addressing inquiries and routing issues to appropriate individuals; monitor and report safety concerns and initiate help desk tickets for IT and equipment issues.
• Monitor inventory, order supplies and equipment, perform A/D/T functions, and input patient charges in Epic; maintain patient medical records according to policy.
• Identify needs of the patient population and assist the professional nurse to deliver care specific to those needs; communicate with patients and primary caregivers at their level of understanding.
• Adhere to HMH organizational standards, competencies, and standards of behavior; perform other duties or projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• High School diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Completion of one of the following: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Medical Assistant (CMA), Patient Care Technician program (PCT), Fundamentals of Nursing program from an accredited school of nursing, HMH PCT Apprenticeship Program, or equivalent patient-facing healthcare experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience checking EKG, vital signs, and blood sugar.

Certifications Required

• AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification within 60 days of entering position.

Pay

Minimum rate of $19.63 per hour. The posted rate is a good faith estimate and does not reflect the full value of the total rewards package. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, education, certifications, skills, geographic location, internal equity, and budget considerations. Eligible for shift differentials and performance-based incentives.