Patient Care Assistant BWH

Mass General Brigham•Boston, MA

1d•$21 - $27•Onsite

About The Position

The Student Nurse Patient Care Assistant (PCA) works as part of a unit-based patient care team under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN), providing direct and indirect patient care and supporting the RN with clinical tasks. The PCA responds to patients’ and family members’ needs and helps ensure efficient unit operations. Clinical duties include assisting patients with activities of daily living, measuring and documenting vital signs and weights, performing EKGs, collecting and recording patient data, supporting prescribed exercises and ambulation, setting up and cleaning up procedures, assisting during procedures, performing simple dressing changes, and serving as a patient observer under RN direction. Unit-specific duties may include chest physical therapy and placing patients on telemetry. Non-clinical duties include escorting discharged patients and families, transporting patients or equipment, maintaining patient rooms, and stocking unit nourishment and food areas. This is an onsite position at The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc., with 36 scheduled weekly hours and a rotating shift. The role requires at least 250 hours within 12 months, with 50% expected to be off-shift (nights or weekends), and work on one winter and one summer holiday each year. The listed pay range is $20.58–$26.58 per hour.

Requirements

Currently enrolled in a BSN or direct-entry master’s nursing program and have completed nursing fundamentals and two clinical rotations.
Be in good academic standing in the current nursing program.
Provide one letter of reference from a Nursing Program Professor.
May not currently hold a valid nursing license.
Meet scheduling requirements: complete a minimum of 250 hours within 12 months, with 50% expected to be off-shift (nights or weekends), and work one winter and one summer holiday per year.
Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions.
Knowledge of medical terminology.
Strong patient/customer service skills.
Ability to lift up to 35 pounds.
Computer skills sufficient to work efficiently with electronic medical records.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual skills.
Prior experience in a clinical setting.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Nationally certified Medical Assistant credential.
Nationally certified Nursing Assistant/Patient Care Technician credential.
New Hampshire Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) credential.
0–1 year of experience working in patient care or elder care.
EPIC experience.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with activities of daily living, including bathing, feeding, toileting, dressing, and grooming; prepare or set up meals and snacks and assist patients during meals when necessary.
Anticipate patients’ ADL needs and adapt care to each patient within the plan of care established by the RN.
Recognize situations requiring RN notification and maintain familiarity with expected patient outcomes, equipment, activities, and applicable precautions.
Measure and record non-invasive vital signs and patient weights.
Perform EKGs according to hospital and departmental standards.
Collect and record patient data, including intake and output, glucometry, and guaic checks.
Assist patients with physical therapy activities, including ordered range-of-motion exercises, deep breathing, coughing, and ambulation.
Set up and clean up for procedures and assist during procedures.
Perform simple dressing changes.
Serve as a patient observer under the direction of the RN.
Perform unit-specific clinical duties, which may include chest physical therapy and placing patients on telemetry.
Escort patients and families upon discharge from the unit and ensure they have full instructions for home care or post-discharge needs.
Transport patients or equipment to other areas of the hospital as needed.
Maintain patient rooms, including changing bed linens when needed.
Order and maintain non-perishable supplies in the unit nourishment station and food cabinets.
Complete other duties as assigned.