Patient Care Technician - FT Days

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. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

Responsibilities

• Functions as a caregiver for a specific patient population to achieve desired outcomes, focusing on expanding knowledge and skills while providing 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, education, safety, and related criteria appropriate to the age of the patients served
• Provides for effective and safe patient outcomes through practice, judgment and critical actions
• Maintains ongoing communication with patients, nursing colleagues and other members of the health care team regarding patient's status and rendered care
• Takes self-directed initiative to do more than is expected or required, acting before being required to by events, improving job performance, and/or creating new opportunities
• Participates in interdisciplinary collaboration of patient's plan of care from admission to discharge to ensure safe transitioning and continuum of care
• Participates in Unit/Department Performance Improvement (PI) activities

Specific Job Functions

• Welcomes patients and checks for proper identification bracelets
• Prepares the patient for assessment/admission, physical examination and procedures
• Recognizes and responds to opportunities to enhance patient satisfaction
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skill necessary to provide care appropriate to age of patients on the unit
• Obtains clinical data (temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, O2 saturation) and documents findings in patient record; notifies RN immediately of abnormal results
• Draws intravenous or capillary blood from newborn through geriatric aged patients using proper aseptic collection techniques; assures appropriate labeling and processing of specimens
• Performs venipuncture for laboratory tests
• Demonstrates reliable ability to follow through with designated responsibilities in collecting, labeling, and transporting specimens to the proper area at the appropriate time; always correctly labels type of specimen collected, including patient's name and room number
• Performs EKG for patients as directed
• Assures the presence, functionality and cleanliness of all necessary equipment; checks and maintains code cart, O2, and other emergency medical equipment as directed
• Applies bandages, slings, compression boots and hypothermia blankets according to standard as directed by RN
• Assists in the transport of patient to departments or units upon request
• Assists with preparation as necessary, assuring the patient is assisted with meals or fed as needed
• Checks inventory of assigned area and restocks as directed
• Ensures room environment is prepared for admission
• Provides direct hygiene and comfort care to patients including bathing, toileting, oral hygiene, incontinent care, and bed making
• Assists patients with dressing/undressing and placing patient belongings in the appropriate bag labeled with completed property checklist; monitors the return of clothing to family of patient
• Performs and documents glucose finger sticks and collects other specimens as directed
• Provides post mortem care
• Obtains and documents patient weights; observes and documents patient's intake and output
• Provides a safe patient environment by answering call lights promptly, communicating with the RN immediately for any change in the patient's condition
• Identifies the needs of the patient population served and modifies and delivers care specific to those needs (age, culture, language, hearing and/or visually impaired, etc.), including communicating with the patient, parent, and/or primary caregiver(s) at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy, etc.)
• Performs other duties and/or projects as assigned

Qualifications

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 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
  • Or equivalent medical background experience, such as EMT, Home Health Aide, CMA, MA, PCT, Nursing Assistant
• Note: Candidates that have not completed one of the programs but meet the other requirements will be considered for selection into the HMH PCT Apprentice Program. If selected, the candidate will be hired into the role of PCT Apprentice. Upon successful completion of the HMH PCT Apprenticeship Program, the candidate will be transferred to the Patient Care Technician role.
• The ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing patient needs, a strong sense of accountability for improving the lives of our patients and their caregivers, an exceptional focus on teamwork, dedication to ongoing education and the ability and passion to deliver the highest quality of care and service based on a strong sense of patient focus are all required

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experienced or certified in phlebotomy and checking EKG, vital signs and blood sugar preferred
• At least one (1) year PCT or CNA experience in a hospital setting strongly preferred or eligible for the HMH PCT apprentice program
• Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant or Patient Care Technician who has successfully completed a PCT program which includes Phlebotomy, EKG and nursing assistant course both in the theoretical and clinical setting

Licenses & Certifications

• AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification within 60 days of entering position

Pay

Minimum rate of $20.68 hourly. The posted rate of pay is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of the market-competitive total rewards package. Base compensation determined at the time of offer may differ based on non-discriminatory factors including labor market data, years of relevant work experience, education and certifications, demonstrated skills and competencies, geographic location, internal equity, and departmental budgets or grant funding. Some jobs may be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions not reflected in the starting rate. Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts. Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate.

Benefits

For full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.