Nursing Assistant/Patient Care Technician - Staffing Support Team - Casual

Independence Health System Careers•Latrobe, PA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is part of a Staffing Support Team and is a casual role. The Nursing Assistant/Patient Care Technician will deliver direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital policies, procedures, protocols, and standards of care. They will perform and/or assist with patient care needs as directed and assist patients with activities of daily living. Responsibilities include responding to call lights, inquiries, and requests from patients and families in a timely manner, collecting, documenting, and reporting ongoing patient care data, measuring and/or documenting intake and output, and obtaining daily weights when indicated. The role also involves obtaining patient care equipment, transporting patients, and potentially performing a variety of patient care skills. The individual will make regular rounds to address patient needs and the physical environment, assist in the educational process to promote health, foster self-care, and improve outcomes, and obtain resources as needed. They will report patient readiness to learn to the RN/LPN, maintain collaborative relationships with other healthcare providers, and communicate pertinent information regarding actual or potential problems to the professional/practical nurse. Effective communication during shift reports and transfers is essential. The role includes participation in unit performance improvement activities, assisting in data collection, and recommending modifications for performance improvement. The individual will demonstrate leadership, problem-solving skills using critical thinking, and maintain accountability for their actions. They will function as a resource person, act as a patient advocate, and potentially serve as a preceptor/mentor for new hires and/or students. Additionally, the role involves assisting in maintaining/decreasing organizational/departmental costs and ensuring compliance with state, Joint Commission, OSHA, and other regulatory agencies, as well as assisting in continuous survey readiness. Adherence to infection control processes, including standard precautions, is required. The position also involves assisting with maintaining adequate and proper supplies, monitoring sterile supplies for expiration, and providing for patient safety in compliance with hospital and nursing department policies, including the use of two forms of patient identification. The role requires assuming appropriate code team roles and responding effectively during emergency situations. Completing proper specimen collection, identification, labeling, and delivery is also a responsibility. Support for the limited use of restraints in accordance with established standards and documentation according to policies is expected. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

High School Diploma, GED or higher level of education.
Sound judgment, problem solving skills, strong oral and written communication skills, ability to follow directions from other team members; works independently assigned duties.
Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program required or obtain within orientation period (five (5) days from hire).
Act 33 with renewal.
Act 34 with renewal.
Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal.

Nice To Haves

Completion of a Nurse Aide or comparable program (such as EMT, Medical Assistant, nursing student with at least one semester of clinical or prior experience in related field.
Computer skills, Phlebotomy, EKG experience.

Responsibilities

Deliver direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital policies, procedures, protocols and standards of care.
Perform and/or assist with patient care needs as directed and assists patient with activities of daily living.
Respond to call lights, inquiries and requests from patients and families in a timely manner.
Collect, document and report ongoing patient care data as directed.
Measure and/or document intake and output, including drainage and obtains daily weights when indicated.
Obtain individual patient care equipment as directed.
Transport patients as directed.
May perform the following skills: obtain vital signs, apply heating pads, set up suction equipment, utilize E cylinders, apply antiembolic hose, aseptic techniques, distribute and maintain sufficient supply of linens, apply Sequential Compression Devices, perform blood glucose testing, perform ostomy care, simple dressing changes, apply telemetry leads, bladder scanning, preventative skin care.
Apply pulse oximetry, urinary catheter care, transport blood and blood products from blood bank, perform EKGs, oral pharyngeal suctioning, place patient in CPM machine, prepare and maintain isolation boxes and supplies, declutter patient rooms and storage areas, deliver specimens to lab, crutch measurement and teaching, maintenance of specialty carts, supply inventory and special order supplies, stock warmers with blankets, saline, and water.
Make regular rounds to address patient needs and physical environment - purposeful hourly rounding.
Assist in the educational process to promote and maintain health, foster self-care, and improve outcomes.
Obtain resources as needed.
Report to the RN/LPN information regarding the patient's readiness to learn.
Maintain a collaborative relationship with other health care providers to achieve desired outcomes and assure continuous flow of patient care.
Communicate pertinent information of actual/potential problems to the professional/practical nurse.
Communicate pertinent information at shift reports and during internal and external transfers.
Participate in the unit performance improvement activities designed to enhance the quality of patient care and customer services.
Assist in data collection process as requested.
Recommend modifications for performance improvement.
Demonstrate leadership by utilizing the behaviors inherent to the role of the technical partner.
Demonstrate an ability to solve problems utilizing critical thinking skills and seeks assistance from immediate supervisor when appropriate.
Maintain accountability for actions taken.
Effectively function as a resource person.
Act as a patient advocate.
Perform effectively in the role of preceptor/mentor to new hires and/or students.
Assist in maintaining/decreasing organizational/departmental costs.
Assist in the department's compliance with state, Joint Commission, OSHA and other regulatory agencies.
Assist in continuous survey readiness for inspections and surveys.
Adhere to the infection control process, including standard precautions, to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting infections.
Assist with maintaining sufficient and proper supplies on an assigned unit.
Assist with monitoring sterile supplies for expiration date and replaces as needed.
Provide for patient safety in compliance with hospital and nursing department policies.
Utilize two forms of patient identification before implementing any form of patient care.
Assume appropriate code team role during code situations or mock codes.
Respond effectively during emergency situations, including internal and external disasters.
Assist in maintaining a safe and clean environment for patients, visitors and staff.
Complete proper collection, identification, labeling and delivery of specimens (including diagnostic studies) to the appropriate department.
Support limited use of restraints in accordance with established standards and documents according to policies.
Other duties as assigned.