Patient Care Assistant (PCA), Emergency Department, Full Time, Days

UC Health•West Chester, OH

15h•Onsite

About The Position

UC Health is hiring a Full-Time Patient Care Assistant (PCA) for the Emergency Department (ED) for Day Shift at West Chester Hospital. A Patient Care Assistant (PCA) in the Emergency Department provides direct, culturally sensitive, and age-appropriate care to patients by assisting with daily living activities, monitoring vital signs, collecting specimens, and supporting clinical procedures under the direction of a registered nurse. They ensure patient safety, maintain a clean and organized environment, communicate effectively with patients, families, and staff, and respond appropriately to the diverse physical and behavioral health needs of the ED population. About West Chester Hospital West Chester Hospital provides its patients with access to the region’s largest group of specialized physicians and medical providers. With a reputation for providing outstanding patient experiences and quality medical care, the hospital consistently ranks amongst the top 5% in the nation. West Chester Hospital provides a Level III Trauma Center that delivers superior emergency and critical care, and a certified Primary Stroke Center that provides access to the subspecialty care at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute. West Chester Hospital has also achieved Magnet Recognition for excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center® (ANCC), and the hospital is routinely ranked among the best places to work in Ohio and Greater Cincinnati. Unit Details : West Chester Hospital is a certified Level III trauma center which shares providers with our Level I trauma center, UC Medical Center, in downtown Cincinnati. Our leadership team is committed to creating a supportive environment where all employees have a work-life balance. All staff have open lines of communication with leadership. Our Emergency Department team strives to create a supportive, team-oriented environment.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required.
0-6 Months of experience required.
Completion of one of the following: State Tested Nursing Aide (STNA) certification preferred.
Or Current RN student with successful completion of a medical surgical rotation or another acute care rotation.
If candidates do not have either of the initial two requirements, the candidate must successfully complete the UC Health competency training for PCA’s and additional orientation before being permitted to care for patients.
Must maintain AHA CPR and patient care skills competency.

Nice To Haves

State Tested Nursing Aide (STNA) certification preferred.
1 - 2 Years equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

Engages in population appropriate communication.
Has knowledge of growth and development milestones and tasks.
Gives clear instructions to patients/family regarding treatment.
Involves family/guardian in the assessment, initial treatment and continuing care of the patient.
Identifies any physical limitations of the patient and deploys intervention when necessary.
Recognizes and responds appropriately to patients/families with behavioral health problems.
Interprets population related data and plans care appropriately.
Identifies and responds appropriately to different needs resulting from, unique psychological needs or those associated with religious / cultural norms.
Performs treatments, administers medication or operates equipment safely.
Recognizes and responds to signs/symptoms of abuse or neglect.
Provides all patient care in a manner that is culturally-based and age-specific.
Measures vital signs, records observation of skin integrity, intake & output, height & weight (bedside or w/c scale); reports all changes including mental status.
Specimen collection: routine urine, clean catch urine, 24-hour urine, collection of self-expectorant sputum.
Assists with activities of daily living (ADL’s), skin care, tube and catheter care, turning, positioning, transfer and ambulating, range of motion (ROM), hot and cold compresses.
Provides hygiene and comfort measures to include Bathing/showering, Pericare.
Changes linens as needed.
Empties drainage bags and records outputs,disposes of bodily fluids/waste.
Utilizes patient care equipment such as manual/hydraulic/electronic lift/hoyer lift/bed scale.
Removes and reapplies splints, braces, cervical collars, skin and skeletal traction, anti-embolic stockings.
Performs post-mortem care.
Distributes and removes food trays, sets up meal trays, positions and prepares patient for meals, assists and/or feeds patient, assists with menu selection, records calorie counts, provides snacks and fluids, monitors head of bed (HOB) with patients receiving tube feedings.
Assists with turning, coughing and deep breathing; provides follow-up to incentive spirometry; reapplies O2 cannula/mask, provide portable oxygen tank for transport.
May perform EKG’s,mobile care phlebotomy (MCP), and blood glucose.
Communicates patient observations to RN timely and appropriately.
Orients patients and visitors to room and unit and updates the white boards appropriately.
Records measurements and patient data.
Documents treatments and procedures performed.
Responds to and utilizes nurse call system.
Reception and phone duties, as directed.
Retrieves information from the computer.
Facilitates the maintenance of a clean, safe and organized environment for patients and coworkers.
Removes equipment when no longer in use to appropriate area for cleaning.
Re-orders and stocks materials as necessary.
Reports maintenance issues.
Participates in patient admission, transfer and discharge.
Demonstrates helpfulness, cooperation and respect for team members in pursuit of unprecedented patient care.
Other duties as delegated
Ensures call lights are within reach of patients.
Answers call lights promptly.
Ensures placement of patient identification bands.
Ensures that side rails and restraints are applied for patient safety and per policy.
Uses proper body mechanics and universal precautions.