Patient Care and Observation Tech

Scotland Health Care System in Laurinburg, North Carolina•Laurinburg, NC

About The Position

The Patient Care and Observation Tech performs assigned patient-care tasks while maintaining awareness of their rationale and any special precautions. The role obtains and documents vital signs, communicates abnormalities and patient or family questions to the nurse, acknowledges psychosocial needs, prepares patients for examinations, and uses appropriate draping and wrapping techniques to maintain asepsis. When instructed, the tech performs a range of patient-care procedures, including applying compresses and bandages, collecting and labeling specimens, cleaning wounds, preparing sterile trays, performing skin preparation and EKGs, applying monitoring electrodes and ordered restraints, assisting with specialized examinations, and assisting licensed nurses with admissions, transfers, and discharges. The tech helps maintain a safe patient-care environment, including identifying patients at risk of falls or harm, supporting mobility and transport, providing constant observation when instructed, and maintaining a ligature-free environment for at-risk patients. Additional duties include supporting elimination needs, maintaining patient-care areas and supplies, performing clerical tasks, communicating with the care team, assisting with emergency life-support measures, and following hospital policies and health, safety, and infection-control standards. The role requires age-specific knowledge to meet the needs of patients across the lifespan.

Requirements

Current listing as a North Carolina Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
Current CPR certification.
Complete AEGIS De Escalation Training within three months of hire.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience in a hospital setting, preferably with critical care and behavioral health experience.

Responsibilities

Obtain patient vital signs according to hospital policy, report abnormalities promptly to the nurse, and document information in designated areas of the electronic medical record.
Relay patient and family questions to the nurse and report patient psychosocial needs.
Prepare patients for examinations and maintain asepsis through appropriate draping and wrapping.
When instructed, apply hot or cold compresses; measure and fit crutches; collect and label specimens; clean wounds; prepare sterile trays; apply simple or ace bandages; perform surgical skin preparation and febrile sponge baths; apply ordered restraints and monitoring electrodes; assist with specialized examinations; perform EKGs; and assist with admissions, transfers, and discharges.
Promote patient and associate safety by identifying patients at risk of falls, injury, or harm; locking stretcher and wheelchair wheels; raising stretcher side rails; placing call bells within reach; keeping work areas uncluttered; assisting with positioning, turning, and ambulation; securing patients for transport; providing constant observation when instructed; and maintaining a ligature-free environment for at-risk patients.
Follow procedures for protective and restrictive devices and assist with applying them properly to support patient safety.
Follow standard precautions when providing patient care.
Check and restock patient rooms with supplies such as gloves, suction equipment, Ambu bags, and needle-disposal boxes.
Maintain patient-care areas by cleaning stretchers between patients, handling clean and soiled linen appropriately, and ensuring the area beneath the mattress is cleaned after trauma patients.
Assist patients with elimination needs while respecting privacy and psychosocial and physiological needs; demonstrate proper enema technique and collect and label specimens appropriately.
Perform clerical duties as directed.
Communicate effectively with the health care team, answer two-way radio calls, dispatch messages, and assist licensed personnel with phone calls, errands, and photocopying as directed.
Initiate or assist with emergency life-support measures as directed, maintain current basic life-support skills, assist with CPR during code blue situations, obtain emergency supplies as directed, and use standard precautions during emergencies.
Perform other duties delegated by licensed nurses, the manager, or the Emergency Center director; follow hospital policies; safeguard and document patients’ belongings; place used instruments in appropriate containers; know the locations of emergency equipment and supplies; remain accessible while on duty; and assist other personnel.
Follow organizational and departmental health and safety standards, including safety regulations, disaster plans, infection-control policies, fire-safety regulations, hazardous-materials disposal procedures, and emergency codes.
Maintain age-specific knowledge of human growth and development and the ability to provide care to neonatal/infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult, middle-aged, and geriatric patients.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.