Patient Care Tech - Medical Respiratory ICU - Rotating

About the Unit

The Medical Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (MRICU) is a 28‑bed adult ICU on the 4th floor of the Critical Care Hospital. It specializes in patients with multisystem organ failure and complex pulmonary needs, including COPD, ARDS, status asthmaticus, pneumonia, sepsis, GI bleeds, DKA, oncological emergencies, acute kidney and liver dysfunction, and acid‑base/metabolic imbalances. The unit also cares for post‑code patients and those requiring advanced bedside procedures and invasive pulmonary interventions. Nurse‑to‑patient ratios are 1:1 and 1:2, with charge nurse, unlicensed assistive personnel, and unit secretary support 24/7.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe, direct, age‑appropriate care to assigned patients.
• Monitor patients’ conditions and communicate updates to the health care team.
• Deliver direct and indirect care for patients with and without medical/surgical complications to meet comfort, hygiene, and safety needs.
• Follow nursing and medical plans of care in accordance with VCUHS Nursing and Hospital policies and procedures.
• Maintain the assigned clinical area as a safe, clean, and well‑stocked environment.
• Manage supplies, educational materials, equipment, sterilization, and the environment to promote quality, safe patient outcomes.
• Contribute to the patient experience by accurately identifying patients, observing safety goals, and reporting physical/mental responses or incidents to licensed practitioners, managers, or RNs.
• Obtain and record initial and ongoing patient data: admissions information, vital signs, height/weight, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, intake/output, calorie counts, and other data per VCUHS policy.
• Collect or assist with specimen collection for diagnostic or waived tests.
• Attend all mandatory in‑services and trainings; complete online training requirements.
• Ensure patient safety through participation in hospital, department, or unit safety initiatives.
• Establish courteous, effective rapport with patients, visitors, co‑workers, and the health care team; demonstrate sensitivity and respond promptly to instructions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Patient Population

The role requires knowledge and skills to provide equitable, age‑specific care across the lifespan: neonates (0‑4 weeks), infants (1‑12 months), pediatrics (1‑12 years), adolescents (13‑17 years), adults (18‑64 years), and geriatrics (65 years and older).

Qualifications

Education

• Required: High School Diploma or equivalent
• Preferred: Certified Nursing Assistant

Licensure & Certification

• Required: AHA BLS Healthcare Provider Certification (or equivalent)

Minimum Qualifications

• Certification/completion of one of the following: Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, Military Corpsman/Medic, Nursing Aide Training Program
• Experience within a healthcare environment OR completion of foundations/clinical nursing course with one clinical rotation

Skills & Abilities

Required

• Patient data collection and documentation (vital signs, intake/output, changes in condition)
• Basic hygiene and activities of daily living care
• Assistance with feeding, hydration, and nutrition
• Assistance with ambulation and patient mobility
• Provision of safe, compassionate care
• Accountability for completion of assigned tasks
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment as needed

Preferred

• Acute care experience as a nursing assistant or aide

Cultural Responsiveness

Demonstrates commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.

Working Conditions

• Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads
• Potential exposure to physical altercations and verbal abuse
• May be required to use physical restraints
• Exposure to high noise levels and bright lights
• Exposure to limited hazardous substances or body fluids, including human blood and other potentially infectious materials
• Periods of constant interruptions
• Universal precautions, PPE, and infection‑control policies required

Physical Requirements

Physical Demands

• Lifting/Carrying: 0‑100 lbs.
• Push/Pull: 0‑100 lbs.
• Climb, stoop, kneel, squat, balance, bend

Work Positions

• Sitting, walking, standing

Additional Physical Requirements & Hazards

• Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination)
• Shift work
• Maneuver weight of patients