Patient Care Assistant - Central Staffing Office

Parkland Health

About The Position

The Patient Care Assistant performs specified patient care activities under the direction of a Registered Nurse and is committed to providing patient-centered, patient-valued care. The role supports patients and their families through basic care, monitoring, documentation, advocacy, and assistance with patient needs. The position is full-time in the Central Staffing Office on the day shift.

Requirements

Must have completed or hold one of the following: a formal nurse aide course; a current certified nurse aide registry; a medical assistant course; a current medical assistant certificate; a patient care technician course; a current patient care technician certificate; current enrollment in an accredited school of professional nursing with documentation of basic nursing fundamentals; graduation from an accredited school of nursing; or Parkland’s job-specific training program.
Must obtain a current Heartsaver CPR course completion card within 90 days of hire and/or placement in the job from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
Must demonstrate basic patient care skills and skill in using supplies and assigned equipment.
Must communicate effectively with departmental personnel, other departments, nurses, physicians, patients, and families.
Must demonstrate patient-centered, patient-valued behaviors.

Responsibilities

Perform basic hygiene care, unsterile treatments, vital-sign checks, and range-of-motion exercises under the direction of a Registered Nurse.
Lift, ambulate, and feed patients in accordance with patient-centered care practices.
Respond to patients’ needs and special requests, advocate for patients, maintain open communication, and honor patient rights and confidentiality.
Monitor patient status and report changes in condition to nurses and other health team members, assisting with patient care needs as appropriate.
Record activities performed, including vital signs, ambulation, and feeding outcomes, according to nursing-unit standards.
Maintain and apply knowledge of sanitation, infection control, safety, supplies, and equipment use.
Monitor patient environments and equipment, correct deficiencies when appropriate, and report defects for immediate correction.
Escort patients, clean designated or special areas, arrange translation services when applicable, perform quality-control checks, and deliver patient specimens when applicable.
Identify opportunities to improve work processes and procedures, recommend changes, and support effectiveness, productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Pursue education and professional growth by attending in-service sessions, department meetings, and workshops, and by reading relevant publications; apply knowledge gained to current work practices.
Maintain knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines; support internal controls and seek guidance as needed to ensure compliance.
Stay current with developments and trends in the field through seminars or workshops, professional journals, professional organizations, and maintenance of certification or licensure.