Patient Care Assistant/PCA

DCH Health System•Tuscaloosa, AL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Patient Care Assistants are essential members of the patient care team, providing daily care and emotional support to patients. By carefully observing patients, they help clinical staff monitor patient needs and support the healing journey of patients and their families. The role provides compassionate personal care and support under the supervision of a registered nurse or LPN and collaborates with nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers to oversee and monitor patients. The position includes routine bedside care, monitoring, documentation, room preparation and upkeep, and safety practices. Patient Care Assistants accurately document care according to policies and procedures, apply safety principles during ambulation, transfers, range-of-motion assistance, positioning, and fall prevention, and use supplies cost-effectively. The role also includes helping orient new staff and performing other duties as assigned. The position requires onsite physical presence. Working conditions may involve prolonged standing and walking; lifting and carrying; pushing stretchers or wheelchairs; stooping, crouching, crawling, kneeling, reaching, and running in emergencies. The role may expose employees to body fluids, disease, infection, laboratory chemicals, hazardous materials, and cleaning solutions, and requires common protective or safety equipment. Psychological demands include receiving delegation, working with team members, addressing conflict, and communicating with people with varied personalities.

Requirements

Approved previous experience providing patient care or completion of in-service education classes.
High school education or equivalent.
Ability to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
BLS certification required or must be achieved within the first 90 days of employment.
Physical presence onsite is essential.
Normal or corrected hearing and vision within 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 emergencies.
Ability to move fingers in a coordinated manner and perceive temperature, texture, shape, and size with fingertips.
Ability to work under conditions involving exposure to body fluids, disease, infection, laboratory chemicals, hazardous materials, and/or cleaning solutions, while wearing common protective or safety equipment.
Ability to receive delegation, work with team members, address conflict, and communicate with people of varied personalities.

Responsibilities

Provide compassionate personal care and support under the supervision of a registered nurse or LPN.
Collaborate with nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers to oversee and monitor patients.
Receive the RN report at the start of the shift and conduct walking rounds and shift report with the off-going PCA.
Apply cardiac monitoring and change cardiac monitor batteries at 7 a.m. on designated units.
Document patient bedside rounds every two hours on odd hours and conduct the 4 P’s (Pain, Position, Potty, Perimeter) on every round.
Document patient vital signs every four hours or as ordered.
Perform daily glucometer quality control on night shift.
Bathe patients daily, changing the bath routine for patients with central lines; replace EKG pads daily with baths.
Change linens daily and assist patients with activities of daily living, including mouth care, feeding, and toileting.
Obtain and document blood sugars for diabetic patients.
Stock isolation caddies in hallways and rooms for the next shift.
Keep patient rooms clean and uncluttered; empty urinals, commodes, and trash as needed and before shift change.
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 in a chair.
Initiate or continue fall-prevention protocols, referring to the Unit Secretary for Morse scores.
Weigh patients on admission and every Wednesday at 5 a.m., unless they receive daily weights; use a standing scale when preferred.
Prepare rooms for admissions with items such as a bath basin, soap, tissues, and 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.
Assist with orientation of new staff.
Measure and record intake and output.
Accurately document care provided according to policies and procedures.
Apply safety principles when assisting with ambulation, transfers, normal range of motion, positioning, and fall prevention.
Use supplies in a cost-conscious manner.
Maintain performance, patient and employee satisfaction, and financial standards outlined in performance evaluations.
Comply with Employee Handbook requirements and DCH Health System policies and procedures, including DCH Behavioral Standards.
Perform essential job functions in a manner that supports the safety of patients, visitors, and employees; identify unsafe practices and take appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards.
Use electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software, and the intranet.
Perform other duties as assigned.