Patient Care Assistant/PCA

DCH Health Care Authority•Tuscaloosa, AL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Patient Care Assistants are an essential part of the patient care team, providing daily care and emotional support to patients. They observe patients and help ensure clinical staff have the information and support needed for patients’ care and recovery. The role provides compassionate personal care under the supervision of a registered nurse or LPN and collaborates with nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers to monitor patients. The assistant performs and documents routine patient care, including bedside rounds, vital signs, blood glucose checks, bathing, linen changes, intake and output, and assistance with activities of daily living. The role also includes supporting safety and infection-prevention practices, maintaining clean and stocked patient rooms, responding to call lights, preparing rooms for admissions, and assisting with new-staff orientation. The position requires onsite work and adherence to DCH Health System policies and behavioral standards.

Requirements

Approved previous experience in giving patient care or completion of in-service education classes.
High school education or equivalent, or one year of direct patient care experience.
Ability to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
BLS certification required or to be achieved within the first 90 days of employment.
Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected within the normal range.
Ability to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking.
Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds, with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
Ability to push a stretcher or wheelchair with an average adult patient.
Ability to frequently stoop and occasionally crouch, crawl, or kneel; reach reasonable distances in any direction; and run in emergency situations.
Ability to move fingers in a coordinated manner and perceive temperature, texture, shape, and size with the fingertips.
Ability to receive delegation, work with team members, address conflict, and communicate with people of varied personalities.
Ability to work in an environment involving exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, laboratory chemicals, hazardous materials, and/or cleaning solutions, and to wear common protective or safety equipment.

Responsibilities

Receive the RN report at the start of the shift and complete walking rounds and shift report with the outgoing PCA.
Provide compassionate personal care and support services under the supervision of a registered nurse or LPN.
Collaborate with nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers to monitor patients and support their care.
Apply cardiac monitoring and replace cardiac monitor batteries at 7 a.m. on designated units.
Document patient bedside rounds every two hours on odd hours and conduct the four P’s—pain, position, potty, and perimeter—during each round.
Document patient vital signs every four hours or as ordered.
Perform daily glucometer quality control on night shift and obtain and document blood sugars for diabetic patients.
Bathe patients daily, with changes for patients with central lines, and replace cardiac monitor EKG pads daily with baths.
Change linens daily and assist patients with activities of daily living, including mouth care, feeding, and toileting.
Keep patient rooms clean and free of clutter; empty urinals, commodes, and trash as needed and before shift change.
Stock isolation caddies and prepare supplies for the next shift.
Answer call lights in a timely manner.
Initiate or continue pressure ulcer prevention bundles in consultation with the RN regarding Braden scores.
Turn and reposition patients every two hours in bed or chair.
Initiate or continue fall-prevention protocols, using Morse scores obtained from the Unit Secretary.
Weigh patients on admission and every Wednesday at 5 a.m., unless daily weights are ordered; use a standing scale when preferred.
Prepare rooms for admissions with items such as a bath basin, soap, tissues, and a water pitcher.
Update patient whiteboards daily.
Provide daily baths on night shift for dialysis and pre-procedural patients.
Provide fresh ice at 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the start of the next shift.
Wipe down and stock vital-sign machines for the next shift.
Measure and accurately record intake and output.
Accurately document care in accordance with policies and procedures.
Apply safety principles when ambulating, transferring, positioning, and assisting patients with range of motion; use fall-prevention techniques.
Use supplies in a cost-conscious manner.
Assist with orientation of new staff.
Use electronic mail, time-and-attendance software, learning-management software, and the intranet as required.
Maintain DCH performance, patient and employee satisfaction, and financial standards; follow the Employee Handbook, DCH Behavioral Standards, and DCH Health System policies and procedures.
Identify and reduce unsafe practices and take appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to patients, visitors, and employees.
Perform other duties as assigned.