Patient Care Assistant (PCA), Surgical Med Surg, Part Time, Nights

UC Health•West Chester Township, OH

9h•Onsite

About The Position

UC Health is hiring a part-time Patient Care Assistant (PCA) for the 4th-floor Surgical Med Surg unit at West Chester Hospital. The role is on the night shift. The PCA provides basic direct patient care as delegated by clinical professional personnel, in accordance with delegation laws and rules and current education, and helps maintain an orderly, clean, and safe environment for patients and visitors. The unit supports a wide variety of surgeries, including orthopedic, bariatric, general, trauma, GI, and GU procedures, and cares for medically complex patients. UC Health describes the team environment as supportive and collaborative, with opportunities for growth and development. UC Health is an integrated academic health system serving Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in partnership with the University of Cincinnati. Its members include West Chester Hospital, UC Medical Center, University of Cincinnati Physicians, UC Health Ambulatory Services, Lindner Center of HOPE, and specialized institutes.

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.
One of the following is required: State Tested Nursing Aide training; acute medical-surgical training; hospital-specific training; or enrollment as a student in an accredited RN program with successful completion of a medical-surgical or other acute-care rotation.
Candidates without the specified initial training must successfully complete UC Health PCA competency training and additional orientation before being permitted to care for patients.
No license or certification is required.

Nice To Haves

One to two years of equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

Communicate appropriately with patients based on their population needs, give clear treatment instructions, involve family or guardians in care, and respond to behavioral, psychological, religious, and cultural needs.
Identify patient physical limitations and intervene when necessary; recognize signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect.
Provide culturally based, age-specific care and report patient changes, including changes in mental status, to the RN in a timely manner.
Measure vital signs, observe skin integrity, record intake and output, and measure height and weight.
Collect routine, clean-catch, and 24-hour urine specimens and self-expectorated sputum specimens.
Assist with activities of daily living, skin, tube and catheter care, turning, positioning, transfers, ambulation, range-of-motion exercises, and hot or cold compresses.
Provide bathing, showering, perineal care, other hygiene and comfort measures, and change linens as needed.
Empty drainage bags, record output, and dispose of bodily fluids and waste.
Use patient-care equipment such as 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 food trays; set up meals; position and prepare patients for meals; assist with or feed patients; assist with 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.
Orient patients and visitors to the room and unit, update whiteboards, 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, and cooperate respectfully with team members.
Keep call lights within patients' reach, answer them promptly, ensure patient identification bands are in place, and ensure side rails and restraints are applied for safety and per policy.
Use proper body mechanics and universal precautions.
Perform other duties as delegated.