Patient Care Technician I - Cardiac/PCU

About the Role

Responsible for serving on the patient care team for an assigned area, providing direct patient care as an unlicensed professional under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN). This role incorporates the primary functions of a certified nursing assistant (CNA) along with other duties related to patient care, dependent on the work area and patient populations assigned.

Reports to Nurse Manager, Assistant Nurse Manager, Charge Nurse, Administrative Manager, or Staff RN. Employees holding nursing licensure must maintain licensure or an active Nebraska CNA.

Responsibilities

• Commits to the mission, vision, and core values of the organization.
• Recognizes and reacts to emergency procedures per role and policies/procedures.
• Answers telephones and assigned communication devices, relaying information as necessary. Refers all physician telephone orders to a licensed professional.
• Assists in collecting specific information from patients and contributes to admission, transfer, and dismissal processes when delegated by an RN. Ensures timely reporting and recording of patient’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
• Assists with patient care consistent with standards of care and clinical priorities determined by the RN, considering risk management and infection control practices.
• Performs and documents routine direct nursing care tasks according to identified age-specific needs, including obtaining and recording vitals, height, weight, and bedside glucose results.
• Performs Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) for assigned patients and documents in the EMR.
• Labels and secures patient care belongings, ensuring the patient room is safe and uncluttered.
• Distributes patient meals/water and assists with feeding as needed. Assists with ambulation, lifting, and positioning according to procedure, including the use of patient lift devices and proper body mechanics.
• Assists with transporting patients, including during transfer and/or dismissal.
• Assists patients with elimination needs, measures/records bodily elimination in the medical record, and bathes patients as directed by the RN.
• Participates in Hourly Patient Rounds to proactively address patient needs. Provides close observation or one-to-one care to prevent wandering or potential injury.
• Collects, labels, and transports specimens to the lab as required. Assists with dressing changes, applying splints, setting up suturing and procedures, and wound care on closed wounds as directed by the RN.
• Cleans, stocks, and cares for supplies and equipment in the assigned work area.
• Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Active Nebraska Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential required.
• Six (6) months of CNA experience preferred.
• Basic Life Support (CPR) certification required (American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or Military Training Network).
• If assigned to the Emergency Department, EMT certification may substitute for CNA.

Skills

• Maintains clinical competency as required for the unit of assignment, including population-specific competencies, and participates in annual skill competency verification.
• Knowledge of general hospital processes and procedures.
• Knowledge of computer equipment and software applications relevant to work functions.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing patient needs, including patients with acute, chronic, and complex disease processes.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with healthcare team members and diverse populations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of patient information.
• Ability to practice proper body mechanics to ensure personal and patient safety.
• Ability to prioritize work demands and work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance.

Physical Requirements

Characterized as medium work requiring exertion of 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or a greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.