Patient Care Associate (PCA)

Responsibilities

• Assists with the unit's admission and discharge processes.
• Establishes good interpersonal relationships with families/visitors and hospital staff.
• Reports vital information to all levels of the healthcare team, as needed.
• Conveys needed information to patients and visitors.
• Maintains good communication with co‑workers for proper team functioning.
• Communicates pertinent patient observations to members of the health care team.
• Performs direct patient care as assigned for a designated group of patients.
• Obtains and documents patient vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, respirations, pulse, weight, and height) using appropriate equipment.
• Apprises the Registered Nurse and health care team of any observed significant changes in the patient's condition.
• Communicates written and verbal information.
• Responds to patient requests and/or call light.
• Maintains a safe, comfortable and therapeutic environment for patients and families in accordance with hospital standards.
• Functions in an emergency situation as a team member with guidance from supervisory personnel.
• Assists with restrained patients according to established policy.
• Performs grade I and II decubitus care, as directed.
• Performs activities of daily living appropriate to the patient's condition.
• Uses proper body mechanics, obtains help and/or uses appropriate equipment when lifting, moving or transferring patients from bed to chair, putting them on stretchers and assisting them into wheelchairs.
• Performs delegated patient care procedures.
• Obtains and labels specimens, and performs certain diagnostic tests consistent with established procedures, as directed.
• Performs phlebotomy procedures.
• Performs telemetry and electrocardiograms, as directed.
• Uses clinical knowledge in the care and management of patients based on diagnoses and the unit assigned.
• Performs related duties, as required.

Qualifications

• High School graduate or equivalency diploma (required).
• Nursing Assistant Certificate with proficiency in performing EKG and phlebotomy (preferred).
• Minimum two (2) years of direct patient care experience (required).