Patient Care Technician

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) provides high quality, patient-centered care by performing a variety of basic patient care services while supporting caring connections with patients and families. Under the supervision of the registered nurse, the PCT assists in providing patient care within the PCT's skills, training, and competencies while maintaining a well-organized, safe patient care environment. The PCT ensures adherence with all hospital policies, procedures, and observes the State Board of Nursing rules for unlicensed personnel. Patient care assignment may include adolescent, adult, and geriatric age groups.

• Work requires constant walking, standing, bending, turning, and stooping. Pushing and pulling heavy objects such as patient beds. Must be able to help lift and turn patients.
• Work requires good interpersonal skills and verbal and written communication skills.
• Work requires contact with physicians, residents, fellows, allied health personnel, and other medical and non-medical office personnel to coordinate necessary information and to provide optimal level of patient care.
• Work requires telephone skills when in contact with patients, referring physicians, and pharmaceutical representatives outside of university, vendors, and third party payees.
• Work requires ability to read, write, and perform mathematical calculations.

Education:

• High School Diploma required

• Provide patient care under the supervision of the licensed nurse being certain to only perform tasks in which training and/or competency has been validated.
• Obtain and record initial and ongoing patient information throughout the cycle of care, including but not limited to: admissions data, vital signs, height and weight, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, intake and output, calorie counts, blood glucose monitoring, and other patient information as outlined by policy. Recognizes and immediately reports values outside normal parameters to the nurse.
• Perform patient rounds being sure to report any changes in a patient's condition or behavior immediately to the nurse. Seeks assistance and guidance as needed to ensure that patient care is delivered in a safe, high quality and effective manner at all times.
• Responds promptly to all call lights.
• Identify and monitor environmental, patient, and the patient family needs in a respectful, positive, and timely manner to achieve satisfaction.
• Perform basic hygiene care, procedures and unit standards to include but not be limited to peri care, oral care, daily hygiene, linen changes, skin changes, and foley care.
• Assist with mobility by regular turning and positioning, dangling, and ambulating patients. Assist with use of walkers, crutches, canes, and wheelchairs.
• Transfer patients to and from other units, departments, or entities with specific attention to age-specific and safety needs. Assist with discharge transports and demonstrate proper body mechanics.
• Obtain or assist in the collection of specimens for diagnostic tests in accordance with hospital policy. Ensures accuracy of all labels and timely transfer of specimens.
• Resolve patient concerns by initiating service recovery and immediately escalating patient, family, visitors and staff concerns through the chain of command.
• Prepare, update, and disseminate reports at the change of shift and when changes are noted in the patient's condition.
• Engage in evidence-based best practices that enhance patient experience.
• Support the administrative and clinical operations of assigned practice environment.
• Orient new staff and students to work areas. Collaborate with other nursing staff and hospital employees to create an environment that is conducive to the retention of qualified personnel.
• Utilize downtime to assist others and/or to provide additional supportive measures to patients and/or patients' families within the respective patient care environment.
• Perform in the role of sitter as needed, and complete required documentation.
• When needed, fulfills role of the Unit Clerk for the nursing unit, actively participates in positive interactions/caring connections with patients and guests.
• Perform clerical duties required for the nursing unit.
• Maintain current compliance with ongoing annual education requirements (modules, classes and competencies).
• Perform other duties as assigned.