Patient Care Assistant (PCA), Step Down, Part-time, Day Shift

UC Health•West Chester, OH

23d

About The Position

The Patient Care Assistant (PCA) provides basic direct patient care as delegated by clinical professional personnel, in accordance with delegation laws and rules and the PCA’s current education. The PCA also maintains an orderly, clean, and safe environment for patients and visitors. This position is in the Step Down unit and is part-time on the day shift. The PCA provides culturally based, age-specific care; monitors and records patient observations and measurements; assists with activities of daily living, mobility, hygiene, meals, and comfort; and performs other patient-care tasks within their training and delegated responsibilities. The role includes communicating patient observations to the RN, documenting care, supporting patients and visitors, maintaining the care environment, and participating in admission, transfer, and discharge processes.

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.
Meet one of the following: State Tested Nursing Aide training; acute medical-surgical training or hospital-specific training; or enrollment as a student 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 training 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.

Responsibilities

Engage in population-appropriate communication; provide clear treatment instructions; involve family or guardians in assessment and care; recognize patient limitations and behavioral health needs; and respond appropriately to cultural, religious, psychological, abuse, or neglect concerns.
Provide culturally based, age-specific patient care and report changes, including changes in mental status, to the RN promptly.
Measure and record vital signs, skin integrity observations, intake and output, height, and weight.
Collect routine, clean-catch, and 24-hour urine specimens and self-expectorated sputum specimens.
Assist with activities of daily living, skin care, tube and catheter care, turning, positioning, transfers, ambulation, range of motion, and hot or cold compresses.
Provide hygiene and comfort measures, including bathing, showering, and perineal care; change linens as needed; empty drainage bags; record output; and dispose of bodily fluids and waste.
Use patient-care equipment, including manual, hydraulic, and electronic lifts, Hoyer lifts, and bed scales.
Remove and reapply splints, braces, cervical collars, skin and skeletal traction, and anti-embolic stockings; provide post-mortem care.
Distribute and remove food trays; prepare and position patients for meals; assist with or feed patients; assist with menu selection; record calorie counts; provide snacks and fluids; and monitor head-of-bed positioning 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, orient patients and visitors to rooms and the unit, update whiteboards, record measurements and patient data, and 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 as needed, and report maintenance issues.
Participate in patient admission, transfer, and discharge; demonstrate helpfulness, cooperation, and respect for team members; and perform other delegated duties.
Keep call lights within patients’ reach and answer them promptly; ensure patient identification bands are in place; apply side rails and restraints for safety and per policy; and use proper body mechanics and universal precautions.