Patient Care Technician - Observe - 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 the patients served.
• Ensures effective and safe patient outcomes through practice, judgment, and critical actions.
• Engages in 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 to ensure safe transitioning and continuum of care.
• Participates in Unit/Department Performance Improvement (PI) activities.
• Specific job functions may include but are not limited to:
  • Welcoming patients and checking for proper identification bracelets.
  • Preparing patients for assessment/admission, physical examination, and procedures.
  • Recognizing and responding to opportunities to enhance patient satisfaction.
  • Demonstrating knowledge and skill necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of patients on the unit.
  • Obtaining clinical data (temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, O2 saturation) and documenting findings in the patient record; notifying RN immediately of abnormal results.
  • Drawing intravenous or capillary blood from newborn through geriatric patients using proper aseptic collection techniques; ensuring appropriate labeling and processing of specimens.
  • Performing venipuncture for laboratory tests.
  • Following through with designated responsibilities in collecting, labeling, and transporting specimens correctly and promptly.
  • Performing EKGs for patients as directed.
  • Ensuring the presence, functionality, and cleanliness of necessary equipment, including code carts, O2, and other emergency medical equipment.
  • Applying bandages, slings, compression boots, and hypothermia blankets as directed by RN.
  • Assisting in the transport of patients to departments or units upon request.
  • Assisting with meal preparation and feeding patients as needed.
  • Checking and restocking inventory of assigned areas.
  • Ensuring room environment is prepared for admission.
  • Providing direct hygiene and comfort care, including bathing, toileting, oral hygiene, incontinent care, and bed making.
  • Assisting patients with dressing/undressing and managing patient belongings.
  • Monitoring the return of clothing to the patient’s family.
  • Performing and documenting glucose finger sticks and collecting other specimens as directed.
  • Providing post-mortem care.
  • Obtaining and documenting patient weights; observing and documenting intake and output.
  • Providing a safe patient environment by answering call lights promptly and communicating changes in patient condition to the RN.
  • Identifying the needs of the patient population served and delivering care specific to those needs (e.g., age, culture, language, hearing, or visually impaired).
  • Communicating with patients, parents, or primary caregivers at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy).
  • Performing other duties and/or projects as assigned.
  • Adhering 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 who have not completed one of the programs but meet 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.

• AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification within 60 days of entering the position.
• The ability to learn quickly, adapt to changing patient needs, and demonstrate a strong sense of accountability for improving patients' and caregivers' lives.
• Exceptional focus on teamwork, dedication to ongoing education, and the ability to deliver high-quality care based on patient focus.

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Experience or certification in phlebotomy, EKG, vital signs, and blood sugar checks.
• 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 who has successfully completed a PCT program including Phlebotomy, EKG, and nursing assistant courses in both theoretical and clinical settings.

Pay

Minimum starting rate of $20.68 per hour. The posted rate is a reasonable good-faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package. The base compensation may vary based on factors such as labor market data, experience, education, certifications, skills, geographic location, internal equity, and budget considerations.

Benefits

HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) positions, including:

• Health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid leave.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Retirement benefits.
• Performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions (for eligible positions).
• Shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts.