Patient Care Technician Med / Surg

About the Role

Under the direction of professional nursing staff, provides direct patient care. Takes vital signs, checks surgical dressings, and aids with activities of daily living (ADLs). Performs blood draws, collects specimen samples, and observes and communicates about the patient’s status to identify needs and provide care. Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary patient care services team.

Responsibilities

• Performs testing and manages patient care based on results and clinical findings.
• Records patient care along the continuum, including activities of daily living (ADLs): feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting, and transferring.
• Completes, documents, and reports patient vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation, and reported pain level).
• Assists in admission, transfer, and discharge of patients.
• Participates in cost-effective strategies to optimize patient outcomes.
• Promotes patient safety, including fall prevention, and ensures the safety of the clinical environment for patients, visitors, and staff.
• Maintains order and appearance of patient rooms and work areas, including patient care supplies and linen.
• Provides post-mortem care.
• Collaborates with the healthcare team to carry out the plan of care, reporting observed changes in patients’ condition.
• Ensures patient comfort relative to their pain status.
• Measures and documents dietary intake, urinary and stool output, calorie count, and patient weight.
• Conducts indwelling urinary catheter care and applies, maintains, or removes external urinary catheter devices.
• Conducts blood glucose monitoring and performs venipuncture for drawing blood samples and establishing IV access.
• Provides wound care to promote healing and maintain skin integrity, including reporting impaired skin integrity.
• Assists with collection of patient specimens for laboratory testing using proper identification and collection techniques.
• Provides orthopedic/rehab device care (e.g., braces, splints, CPM) and dons/doffs compression wraps/stockings.
• Participates in hourly patient rounding and responds to patient-triggered alarms (e.g., call light, chair alarm, bed alarm).
• Complies with The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals within scope of practice.
• Detects, reports, and acts to avoid or correct safety risks, including reporting adverse events and near misses.
• Provides professional vigilance to assigned patients, including when assigned as a patient safety companion.
• Incorporates safe lifting techniques and body mechanics in daily practice.
• Improves patient flow and prevents care delays.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Current Maryland state certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) required.
• No previous experience required; previous direct patient care experience in a healthcare facility preferred.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.

Skills

• Able to effectively communicate using verbal and written skills.
• Maintains interpersonal relationships and uses teamwork skills to provide cohesive care.
• Ability to organize work priorities, perform several duties simultaneously, and function in stressful situations.
• Ability to learn and use computer systems.
• Demonstrates proper technique and skills for obtaining accurate blood glucose results and documenting findings.
• Demonstrates the ability to perform delegated nursing tasks according to patient needs.

Schedule

Full-Time Nights (7:00 PM – 7:30 AM).

Pay

Pay Range: $17.68–$24.76 per hour (depends on years of experience). Shift differential included.

Benefits

Review the 2025-2026 UMMS Benefits Guide for details.