Patient Care Tech II - PCU

About the role

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) reports to the Nurse Manager. Under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse, the PCT performs multi-skilled activities to support a decentralized patient-centered approach to patient care and achieve desired outcomes. A Patient Care Technician’s responsibility includes measuring and documenting vital signs. They also identify patient concerns and report them to their colleagues. A Patient Care Technician’s duty also includes moving, turning or relocating patients as required for their comfort and medical requirements. An effective Patient Care Technician should have patience, empathy and intuition to serve their patients best. They also need good communication and organizational skills to interact with their Manager and Charge Nurse and communicate their issues to these Care Team Members.

Responsibilities

• Keep patient rooms tidy and sanitized
• Assist patient with everyday needs (personal hygiene, using the restroom, grooming, etc.)
• Monitor vital signs (temperature, pulse etc.) or EKG signals and patient condition
• Assist nursing staff in administering basic treatments
• Ensure rooms have adequate patient care supplies, linen is clean
• Assist patients with particular issues or needs
• Provide appropriate emotional support
• Place patient on cardiac monitor
• Empty drains, ostomies, foley bags
• Perform blood sugar checks
• Assist with other duties assigned by the department leader

Requirements

Required License Certification and Registration: Basic Life Support required upon hire. Thereafter, must maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS), either a certification from an American Heart Association (AHA) BLS for Healthcare Providers (or AHA recognized equivalent) or an American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider.

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements: A high school diploma or equivalent (GED) required. One year of patient care work experience in a health care facility or Certified Nursing Assistant is preferred.

Physical Requirements: Ability to perform job functions while standing (continuous), sitting (continuous), walking (continuous), climbing stairs (infrequent), working indoors (continuous), working outside in temperature extremes (infrequent), working from elevated areas (frequent), working in confined/cramped spaces (frequent), performing job functions from kneeling positions (infrequent), bending at the waist (continuous), twisting at the waist (frequent), squatting and performing job functions (frequent), performing "pinching" operations (frequent), performing gross motor activities with fingers and hands (continuous), performing firm grasping with fingers and hands (continuous), performing fine manipulation with fingers and hands (continuous), reaching overhead (frequent), performing repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders (continuous), fully using both legs (continuous), using lower extremities for balance and coordination (frequent), reaching in all directions (continuous), lifting and carrying 50 lbs. unassisted (infrequent), lifting/lowering objects 50 lbs. from/to floor from/to 36 inches unassisted (infrequent), lifting from 36" to overhead 25 lbs. (infrequent), exerting up to 50 lbs. of force (frequent). Examples: To transfer a 100 lb. patient that cannot assist requires 50 lbs. of force; for every 100 additional pounds, assistance will be required from another healthcare worker. 20 lbs. of force needed to push a 400 lb. patient in a wheelchair on carpet. 25 lbs. of force required to push a stretcher with a patient with one hand. Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes (continuous); see and recognize objects close at hand or at a distance (continuous); match or discriminate between colors (continuous); determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception (continuous); good peripheral vision capabilities (continuous); maintain hearing acuity, with correction (continuous); perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements; deal effectively with stressful situations; work rotating shifts; work overtime as required; work in a latex safe environment; maintain tactile sensory functions; maintain good olfactory sensory function; be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and as required.

Skills

• Patience