Patient Support Assistant, casual

About the role

We are more than a health system. We are a belief system. We believe wellness and sickness are both part of a lifelong partnership, and that everyone could use an expert guide. We work hard, care deeply and reach further to help people uncover their own power to be healthy. We inspire hope. We learn, grow, and achieve more – in our careers and in our communities.

Assist the Registered Nurse in providing direct patient care to multiple patients at a time on a designated nursing unit.

Responsibilities

• 40% – Direct patient assistance: Perform and/or assist patients with activities of daily living (e.g., bathing, grooming, eating, walking). Maintain environmental cleanliness and safety of patient rooms, unit, and equipment. Provide assistance to patients, visitors, and nursing personnel; help other departments as needed. Develop respectful and compassionate relationships with patients and families. May serve as a patient safety champion and assist with telemetry cardiac monitoring, recognizing life‑threatening arrhythmias and communicating immediately to a licensed clinician. May act as a transporter and run errands for patient care.
• 40% – Delegated nursing tasks: Perform delegable tasks that do not require nursing judgment, such as waived testing (fingerstick glucose, urine dipstick, occult fecal occult blood), non‑sterile specimen collection, nasogastric tube care, 1‑2 lead EKG, and simple clean non‑sterile dressing changes. Accurately collect and document height, weight, vital signs, intake and output, etc. Use portable technology (handheld wireless devices) for measurement, documentation, and point‑of‑care testing. Report patient observations and concerns to the Registered Nurse.
• 20% – Support and coordination: Assist hospital visitors and staff with information needs. Utilize wireless devices and technology for coordination of healthcare (e.g., scheduling, flowchart documentation, nutrition service ordering). May serve as a super‑user for nursing assistant information technology and/or preceptor for new nursing assistants. Maintain supplies and equipment necessary for patient care operations. Secure and handle appropriate supplies, medications, and lab specimens transported within the unit.

The duties listed above are not exhaustive; associates are expected to perform other duties as requested by supervisors. As a High Reliability Organization (HRO), responsibilities require focus on safety, quality, and efficiency.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED.
• 16‑ and 17‑year‑old individuals without a high school diploma or GED will be considered only if they have a valid work permit.
• 18‑year‑old individuals enrolled in high school do not need a high school diploma/GED/work permit to be considered.

Schedule

Variable scheduled weekly hours; as needed.

Department

Emergency Department