NURSING ASSISTANT/PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN - LAUREL SURGICAL CENTER

Independence Health System•Latrobe, PA

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Technical Partner provides direct and indirect patient care under the direction of the RN or LPN. This role involves delivering direct and indirect patient care in accordance with hospital policies, procedures, protocols and standards of care. The Technical Partner will perform and/or assist with patient care needs as directed and assists patients with activities of daily living. They will respond to call lights, inquiries and requests from patients and families in a timely manner, and collect, document and report ongoing patient care data as directed. Responsibilities include measuring and/or documenting intake and output, including drainage and obtaining daily weights when indicated. The role also involves obtaining individual patient care equipment as directed and transporting patients as directed. A wide range of skills may be performed, including but not limited to: obtaining vital signs, applying heating pads, setting up suction equipment, utilizing E cylinders, applying antiembolic hose, aseptic techniques, distributing and maintaining sufficient supply of linens, applying Sequential Compression Devices, performing blood glucose testing, performing ostomy care, simple dressing changes, applying telemetry leads, bladder scanning, and preventative skin care. Additionally, the role includes applying pulse oximetry, urinary catheter care, transporting blood and blood products from the blood bank, performing EKGs, oral pharyngeal suctioning, placing patients in CPM machines, preparing and maintaining isolation boxes and supplies, decluttering patient rooms and storage areas, delivering specimens to the lab, crutch measurement and teaching, maintenance of specialty carts, supply inventory and special order supplies, stocking warmers with blankets, saline, and water. The Technical Partner will make regular rounds to address patient needs and the physical environment through purposeful hourly rounding. They will assist in the educational process to promote and maintain health, foster self-care, and improve outcomes, and obtain resources as needed. Reporting to the RN/LPN information regarding the patient's readiness to learn is crucial. Maintaining a collaborative relationship with other health care providers to achieve desired outcomes and assure a continuous flow of patient care is essential. Communicating pertinent information of actual/potential problems to the professional/practical nurse, and communicating pertinent information at shift reports and during internal and external transfers are key duties. The role requires participation in unit performance improvement activities designed to enhance the quality of patient care and customer services, and assisting in the data collection process as requested. Recommending modifications for performance improvement and demonstrating leadership by utilizing the behaviors inherent to the role of the technical partner are expected. The Technical Partner must demonstrate an ability to solve problems utilizing critical thinking skills and seek assistance from their immediate supervisor when appropriate, while maintaining accountability for actions taken. They will effectively function as a resource person and act as a patient advocate. The role also involves performing effectively in the role of preceptor/mentor to new hires and/or students. Assisting in maintaining/decreasing organizational/departmental costs and assisting in the department's compliance with state, Joint Commission, OSHA and other regulatory agencies are also part of the responsibilities. Assisting in continuous survey readiness for inspections and surveys, and adhering to the infection control process, including standard precautions, to reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting infections are mandatory. The role includes assisting with maintaining sufficient and proper supplies on an assigned unit, and assisting with monitoring sterile supplies for expiration dates and replacing them as needed. Providing for patient safety in compliance with hospital and nursing department policies, and utilizing two forms of patient identification before implementing any form of patient care are critical. The Technical Partner will assume the appropriate code team role during code situations or mock codes and respond effectively during emergency situations, including internal and external disasters. Assisting in maintaining a safe and clean environment for patients, visitors, and staff, and completing proper collection, identification, labeling, and delivery of specimens (including diagnostic studies) to the appropriate department are also required. Supporting limited use of restraints in accordance with established standards and documenting according to policies, along with performing other duties as assigned, complete the scope of this position.

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.

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.