Patient Care Tech; Med Surg - PRN

Patient Care Tech

Under the general direction of the DON and Charge Nurse, the Patient Care Tech (PCT) will promote palliative care and comfort for hospital inpatients, swing-bed patients, and hospice care patients, in accordance with Joint Commission, federal, state, and local guidelines, organizational and departmental policies and procedures. PCT gives routine, non-licensed, technical bedside care as requested by licensed staff member as a member of the Nursing Team.

Standards of Performance

• Provides basic age-appropriate patient care under the supervision of an RN/LPN.
• Basic hygiene is provided by offering complete or partial bath as needed (i.e. mouth care, hair care, shaving and catheter care) as assistant to the RN/LPN.
• Vital signs are accurate and documented correctly according to unit specific policies and guidelines and gathered when requested by the RN/LPN.
• Provides a secondary visualization of patients for pressure areas and promptly reports to RN/LPN.
• I & O's and weights are accurate and documented according to unit guidelines when requested by the RN.
• Patient arm bands are checked upon admission, each shift and as needed.
• Emptying and recording output from foley catheters and/or colostomies.
• Laboratory policy/procedures are followed.
• Two patient identifiers are verified prior to specimen collection.
• Verify  with the specimen label.
• Other specimens: sputum, stools, urine, etc. are promptly delivered or sent to the laboratory as appropriate.
• Patient armbands are scanned for bedside glucose testing.
• Collaborates with nursing and respiratory to provide appropriate respiratory care.
• Encourages turning, coughing and deep breathing for appropriate patients.
• Removes and reapplies oxygen when instructed by RN/LPN.
• Demonstrates patient safety awareness.
• Ensures identification band is on each patient at beginning of shift.
• Communicates fall risk and activates exit alarm as indicated.
• Uses proper body mechanics.
• Turns and positions patients every 2 hours as assistant with RN/LPN.
• Performs tasks or clinical skills as delegated.
• Maintains awareness of patient's nutritional status and assists with meals as needed.
• Performs urinary catheter care every shift and as needed.
• Maintains infection control measures per policy.
• Assists patients with readiness for discharge ensuring that all patient belongings are gathered. Upon D/C, prepares room for environmental services.
• Ensures patient rooms are kept tidy and organized.
• Restock supplies as directed by RN/LPN, to include linen, lab supplies, IV supplies.
• Maintains customer service as a priority.
• Customers and co-workers are treated in a courteous manner.
• New patients are promptly welcomed with patient care items and oriented to unit.
• Call lights are answered promptly with message communicated to the appropriate person.
• Listens to shift report.
• Discusses patients plan for the day at the beginning of shift.
• Demonstrates interpersonal behaviors congruent with the basic principles of working well with others.
• Focus on the situation, issue or behavior, not on the person.
• Maintains self-confidence and self-esteem of others.
• Maintain constructive relationships with co-workers, peers, managers and others maintaining a customer focus.
• Take initiative to make things better.
• Lead by example.
• Apologies are offered for unexpected delays.
• Demonstrates team function.
• Accountability and reliability are demonstrated by reporting to work as scheduled.
• Compliance is demonstrated with adherence to the attendance policy.
• Punctuality is observed as a priority; reports to the unit on time.

Requirements

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Level of

Education:

High School or equivalent; or Patient Care Tech Certification or completion of (1) semester in a clinical nursing program.

Professional Requirements:
Graduate of a PCT, Nursing Assistant, EMT, CMA, MOA, or U.S. Military Medic Program or Enrolled in a school of Nursing and has completed one (1) full semester of clinical rotations. Patient Care Tech certification preferred.

Formal Training:
Additional training regarding glucose testing. (in-house training provided)

Licensure, Certification, Registration: PCT, CMA, MOA, EMT, or Nursing Assistant Certificate; also, BLS/CPR.

Work Experience:

Preferred 6 months experience in a hospital/outpatient care setting.

Tools and Equipment Used:
Calculator, personal computer, telephone, facsimile machine, paper shredder, copier, printer, standard office equipment, dynamap, telemetry.