Patient Care Assistant (PCA), Cardiac/Neuro Med Surg, Full Time, Nights

UC Health•West Chester Township, OH

10d•Onsite

About The Position

UC Health is hiring a full-time Patient Care Assistant (PCA) for the Cardiac/Neuro Med Surg unit at West Chester Hospital. The PCA provides basic direct patient care as delegated by clinical professional personnel in accordance with applicable delegation laws and rules and current education. The role also helps maintain an orderly, clean, and safe environment for patients and visitors. The position involves age- and culturally appropriate patient care, including assisting with daily living activities, hygiene, mobility, positioning, specimen collection, meals, and comfort measures. The PCA measures and records vital signs and other patient information, observes changes in condition, and communicates observations to the RN. Other duties include documenting care, responding to calls, supporting admissions, transfers, and discharges, and maintaining safe and organized patient areas. The role is on the Cardiac/Neuro Med Surg unit at West Chester Hospital. The posting welcomes new graduates and notes opportunities for professional growth, development, and cross-training. The description lists the position as full time and nights in the title, but the opening text refers to day shift.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Minimum of 0–6 months of experience required.
Trained in and maintains proficiency in AHA CPR and patient-care skills; completes unit-specific hospital safety education.
Must meet one of the listed preparation criteria: State Tested Nursing Aide training, acute medical-surgical training, hospital-specific training, or be a student in an accredited RN program who has successfully completed a medical-surgical or other acute-care rotation.
If the candidate does not meet either of the first two listed training requirements, successful completion of UC Health PCA competency training and additional orientation is required before providing patient care.
No license or certification is required.

Nice To Haves

One to two years of equivalent experience.
New graduates are welcome.
Opportunities for professional growth, development, and cross-training are available.

Responsibilities

Engage in population-appropriate communication and account for patients’ developmental, psychological, religious, and cultural needs.
Give patients and families clear instructions regarding treatment and involve family or guardians in assessment and continuing care as appropriate.
Identify patient physical limitations and implement interventions when necessary; recognize and respond appropriately to behavioral health concerns and signs of abuse or neglect.
Provide culturally based and age-specific patient care.
Measure vital signs and record skin integrity, intake and output, height, and weight; report changes, including changes in mental status.
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 exercises, and hot or cold compresses.
Provide hygiene and comfort measures, including bathing, showering, and perineal care; change linens as needed.
Empty drainage bags, record outputs, and dispose of bodily fluids and waste.
Use patient-care equipment, including 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 feeding and 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 in a timely and appropriate manner; orient patients and visitors to rooms and the unit and update whiteboards.
Record measurements and patient data and document treatments and procedures performed.
Respond to and use the nurse call system; perform reception and phone duties as directed; retrieve information from the computer.
Maintain a clean, safe, and organized environment; remove equipment for cleaning, reorder and stock materials, and report maintenance issues.
Participate in patient admissions, transfers, and discharges and cooperate respectfully with team members.
Keep call lights within patients’ reach and answer them promptly; ensure patient identification bands are in place and side rails and restraints are applied according to policy.
Use proper body mechanics and universal precautions.
Perform other duties as delegated.