Patient Care Technician - Elder Care - PT Days with Benefits

About the role

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

Responsibilities

• Functions as a caregiver for a specific patient population to achieve desired outcomes, focusing on expanding knowledge and skills.
• Provides effective direct and indirect care as part of the interdisciplinary team to a variety of complex patients under the direction and supervision of the registered nurse.
• Promotes patient satisfaction, comfort, and safety.
• Assists with a variety of patient, unit, and environment-related tasks.
• Participates in patient safety initiatives.
• Provides patient care based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria appropriate to the age of patients served.
• Ensures effective and safe patient outcomes through practice, judgment, and critical actions.
• Maintains ongoing communication with patients, nursing colleagues, and other members of the healthcare team regarding patient status and care rendered.
• Takes self-directed initiative to exceed expectations, improve job performance, and create new opportunities.
• Participates in interdisciplinary collaboration for the patient’s plan of care from admission to discharge.
• Engages in Unit/Department Performance Improvement (PI) activities.
• Performs specific job functions including but not limited to:
  • Welcomes patients and verifies proper identification bracelets.
  • Prepares patients for assessment, admission, physical examination, and procedures.
  • Recognizes and responds to opportunities to enhance patient satisfaction.
  • Demonstrates knowledge and skill necessary to provide age-appropriate care.
  • Obtains clinical data (temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, O2 saturation) and documents findings; notifies RN of abnormal results.
  • Draws intravenous or capillary blood from newborn through geriatric patients using proper aseptic techniques, ensuring appropriate labeling and processing.
  • Performs venipuncture for laboratory tests.
  • Collects, labels, and transports specimens correctly and promptly.
  • Performs EKGs as directed.
  • Ensures presence, functionality, and cleanliness of necessary equipment; checks and maintains code cart, O2, and other emergency medical equipment.
  • Applies bandages, slings, compression boots, and hypothermia blankets as directed by RN.
  • Assists in patient transport to departments or units upon request.
  • Assists with meal preparation and feeding as needed.
  • Checks and restocks inventory of assigned area.
  • Prepares room environment for admission.
  • Provides direct hygiene and comfort care, including bathing, toileting, oral hygiene, incontinent care, and bed making.
  • Assists patients with dressing/undressing and manages patient belongings.
  • Monitors and documents glucose finger sticks and other specimens.
  • Provides postmortem care.
  • Obtains and documents patient weights; observes and documents intake and output.
  • Ensures a safe patient environment by answering call lights promptly and communicating changes in patient condition to the RN.
  • Identifies and addresses the needs of diverse patient populations (e.g., age, culture, language, hearing/vision impairments).
  • Communicates effectively with patients, parents, and/or primary caregivers at their level of understanding.
• Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Adheres to HMH organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Requirements

• High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
• Completion of one of the following:
  • Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, or Patient Care Technician program.
  • Fundamentals of Nursing program from an accredited school of nursing.
  • HMH PCT Apprenticeship Program.
  • Equivalent medical background experience (e.g., EMT, Home Health Aide, CMA, MA, PCT, Nursing Assistant).
• Note: Candidates without one of the above programs but meeting other requirements may be considered for the HMH PCT Apprentice Program. If selected, the candidate will be hired as a PCT Apprentice and transferred to the Patient Care Technician role upon successful completion of the program.
• Ability to learn quickly, adapt to changing patient needs, and demonstrate accountability for improving patient and caregiver lives.
• Strong focus on teamwork, dedication to ongoing education, and passion for delivering high-quality care.

Qualifications

• Experience or certification in phlebotomy, EKG, vital signs, and blood sugar checks preferred.
• At least one (1) year of PCT or CNA experience in a hospital setting strongly preferred or eligibility for the HMH PCT apprentice program.
• Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant, or Patient Care Technician with completion of a PCT program (including Phlebotomy, EKG, and nursing assistant course in both theoretical and clinical settings).

Licenses and Certifications

• AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification within 60 days of entering position (required).
• Medical Office Assistant Certification (preferred).

Pay

Minimum starting rate of $21.77 per hour. The posted rate is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role and may vary based on factors such as labor market data, experience, education, certifications, skills, geographic location, internal equity, budget, and grant funding. Full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) positions include a comprehensive benefits package with health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits. Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials, performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions.