Patient Care Technician I - Estelle Unit - Huntsville

About the role

Provides basic technical assistance and supportive patient care to meet the needs of individual patients throughout assigned areas within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD).

Responsibilities

• Collects, reports and documents data: vital signs, height and weight, intake and output, pulse oximetry, and collects specimens
• Performs and reports point-of-care testing (POCT)
• Assists with patient activities and care as assigned by the charge nurse/designee per the patient’s plan of care
• Provides for patients’ personal hygiene
• Assists with feeding
• Ambulates, positions, and turns patients and cares for patients with altered mobility
• Assists with patient safety related to age and condition
• Assists with patient restraints and patient-specific safety precautions
• Collects, reports and documents data related to patient needs/emergencies and usual patient and family behavior
• Cares for patients within a correctional environment
• Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality of information and records at all times
• Provides and maintains a clean, safe environment; performs and/or assists others to perform proper aseptic technique, isolation procedures, and infection control measures
• Maintains patient care areas with appropriate supplies
• Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure established for the department

Equipment

Standard patient care supplies, equipment and mechanical devices.

Work environment

May be exposed to occupational hazards including communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, hazardous medications, and disoriented or combative patients or others. Located within the confines of a prison, jail or juvenile detention center. Security clearance and pre-employment drug testing are required.

Requirements

• Completion of one of the following technical programs:
  • Recognized Nurse Assistant program
  • Medical Assistant program
  • Medical Corpsman program
  • EMT program
  • UTMB Hospital Aide training program
• OR two (2) years of experience in a direct patient care environment
• OR currently enrolled in a recognized School of Nursing program and completed the first semester of education which contains clinical concepts and health assessment or the equivalent
• Current Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS-HP) certification required