Patient Care Assistant (PCA),Solid Organ Transplant, Full Time, Nights

UC Health•Cincinnati, OH

About The Position

The Patient Care Assistant provides basic direct patient care as delegated by clinical professional personnel, in accordance with applicable delegation law and rules and the assistant’s current education. The PCA also maintains an orderly, clean, and safe environment for patients and visitors. This role supports the Solid Organ Transplant service and is listed as full time, nights. The PCA provides culturally based, age-specific care, communicates observations and patient data to the RN, documents care, assists with activities of daily living and patient mobility, and supports patients and families throughout care. The role may include specimen collection, vital-sign measurement, patient equipment use, meal assistance, oxygen support, and other delegated duties. The PCA contributes to admission, transfer, and discharge activities and follows safety practices and unit procedures.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Zero to six months of experience required.
Training and maintained proficiency in AHA CPR and patient-care skills.
Completion of unit-specific hospital safety education.
Must meet one of the following criteria: State Tested Nursing Aide training; acute medical-surgical training or hospital-specific training; or student status in an accredited RN program with a successfully completed medical-surgical or other acute-care rotation. Candidates who do not meet either of the first two criteria must successfully complete UC Health PCA competency training and additional orientation before caring for patients.

Nice To Haves

One to two years of equivalent experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Engage in population-appropriate communication and involve family or guardians in assessment, initial treatment, and continuing care as appropriate.
Recognize patient physical limitations, behavioral health concerns, signs of abuse or neglect, and needs related to psychological, religious, or cultural factors; respond appropriately.
Measure vital signs and record skin observations, intake and output, height, and weight; report changes, including changes in mental status.
Collect routine urine, clean-catch urine, 24-hour urine, and self-expectorated sputum specimens.
Assist with activities of daily living, skin care, tube and catheter care, turning, positioning, transfers, ambulation, range-of-motion exercises, and hot or cold compresses.
Provide hygiene and comfort measures, including bathing, showering, and pericare; change linens as needed.
Empty drainage bags, record outputs, and dispose of bodily fluids and waste.
Use patient-care equipment, including manual, hydraulic, or electronic lifts, Hoyer lifts, and bed scales.
Remove and reapply splints, braces, cervical collars, skin and skeletal traction, and anti-embolic stockings; perform post-mortem care.
Distribute and remove meal trays; set up meals, position and prepare patients for meals, assist with feeding and menu selection, record calorie counts, provide snacks and fluids, and monitor head-of-bed position for patients receiving tube feedings.
Assist with turning, coughing, and deep breathing; follow up on incentive spirometry; reapply oxygen cannulas or masks and provide portable oxygen tanks for transport.
May perform EKGs, mobile care phlebotomy, and blood glucose testing.
Communicate patient observations to the RN in a timely and appropriate manner; orient patients and visitors to rooms and units and update white boards.
Record measurements and patient data, document treatments and procedures, respond to and use the nurse-call system, perform reception and phone duties as directed, and retrieve information from the computer.
Maintain a clean, safe, and organized environment; return equipment for cleaning, reorder and stock materials, and report maintenance issues.
Participate in patient admission, transfer, and discharge; cooperate respectfully with team members and perform other delegated duties.
Keep call lights within reach and answer them promptly; ensure patient identification bands are in place and side rails and restraints are used according to policy; use proper body mechanics and universal precautions.