Patient Care Tech - Neuro ICU - Rotating

VCU Health’s Neuroscience ICU is the largest in Virginia, with 28 state-of-the-art beds dedicated to neurocritical care for diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. The NSICU is an essential component of VCU’s comprehensive stroke center—the first and only in Virginia—and has received the Beacon Award for critical-care excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

About the role

The Patient Care Technician provides direct, age-specific care to patients based on medical orders and the plan of care under the direction of the RN or licensed independent practitioner.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe, direct care to patients in the assigned unit, making age-appropriate adjustments.
• Monitor patients’ conditions and provide updates to the health-care team.
• Deliver direct and indirect care to meet patients’ comfort, hygiene, and safety needs in accordance with VCUHS Nursing and Hospital policy.
• Maintain a safe, clean, stocked environment that supports patient care and unit functioning.
• Manage supplies, educational materials, equipment, and sterilization to promote quality, safe outcomes.
• Contribute to the patient experience by accurately identifying patients, observing safety goals, and reporting physical or mental responses to the plan of care.
• Obtain and record initial and ongoing patient information (admissions data, vital signs, height/weight, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, intake/output, calorie counts).
• Obtain or assist in collecting specimens for diagnostic or waived tests.
• Attend all mandatory in-services and trainings; adhere to online training requirements.
• Ensure patient safety through job performance and participation in hospital, department, or unit initiatives.
• Establish courteous, effective rapport with patients, visitors, co-workers, and other health-care team members.
• Perform other assigned duties.

Patient population

• Neonates (0–4 weeks)
• Infants (1–12 months)
• Pediatrics (1–12 years)
• Adolescents (13–17 years)
• Adults (18–64 years)
• Geriatrics (65 years and older)

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable, age-appropriate care and interpret data reflective of each patient’s status and needs.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent (required).
• Certification or completion of one of the following:
  • Certified Nursing Assistant
  • Medical Assistant
  • Emergency Medical Technician
  • Military Corpsmen/Medic
  • Nursing Aide Training Program
• Experience within a health-care environment or completion of a foundations/clinical nursing course and one clinical rotation.
• AHA BLS HCP certification or equivalent (required).

Skills

• Knowledge of patient data collection and documentation (vital signs, intake/output, change in condition).
• Knowledge of basic hygiene and activities of daily living care.
• Ability to assist with feeding, hydration, nutrition, ambulation, and patient mobility.
• Ability to provide safe, compassionate care and complete assigned tasks.
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment as needed.
• 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.
• Exposure to physical altercations, verbal abuse, and physical restraints.
• Exposure to high noise levels, bright lights, hazardous substances, body fluids, and human blood or other potentially infectious materials.
• Periods of constant interruptions.
• Universal precautions and use of personal protective equipment required.

Physical requirements

• Lifting/carrying: 0–100 lbs.
• Push/pull: 0–100 lbs.
• Climb, stoop, kneel, squat, balance, bend.
• Work positions: sitting, walking, standing.
• Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination).
• Maneuver weight of patients.
• Hear alarms, telephone, tape recorder.
• Reach above shoulder; repetitive arm/hand movements; finger dexterity.
• Hazards: depth perception; exposure to toxic/caustic chemicals, moving mechanical parts, x-ray/electromagnetic energy, high-pitched noises.

Mental/sensory demands

• Strong recall, reasoning, problem-solving.
• Clear speaking, legible writing, reading, logical thinking.
• Fast-paced environment; ability to handle multiple priorities and frequent, intense customer interactions.
• Adaptability to frequent change and noisy environment.