Patient Care Assistant (PCA), Step Down, Part-time, Day Shift

UC Health•West Chester Township, OH

23d

About The Position

The Patient Care Assistant (PCA) provides basic direct patient care as delegated by clinical professional personnel, in accordance with delegation law and rules and current education. The PCA maintains an orderly, clean, and safe environment for patients and visitors. This is a part-time, day-shift position in the Step Down unit.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Minimum of 0–6 months of experience.
Trained in and maintains proficiency in AHA CPR and patient care skills.
Complete unit-specific hospital safety education.
Meet one of the following: State Tested Nursing Aide training; acute medical-surgical training or hospital-specific training; or student status in an accredited RN program with a successfully completed medical-surgical or other acute-care rotation.
Candidates who do not meet either of the first two training criteria 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

1–2 years of equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

Communicate appropriately with patients and families, provide clear treatment instructions, involve families or guardians in care, and respond to patients' developmental, physical, behavioral, psychological, religious, and cultural needs.
Perform treatments, administer medication, and operate equipment safely within the role's delegated scope.
Provide culturally based, age-specific patient care.
Measure vital signs and record skin integrity, intake and output, height, weight, and other observations; report changes, including changes in mental status.
Collect routine, clean-catch, and 24-hour urine specimens and self-expectorant 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, set up, and remove meal trays; 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 the room and unit; update whiteboards; record measurements and patient data; and 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; remove equipment for cleaning; reorder and stock materials; and report maintenance issues.
Participate in patient admissions, transfers, and discharges, and work cooperatively and respectfully with team members.
Perform other duties as delegated.
Keep call lights within patients' reach and answer them promptly; ensure patient identification bands are in place and side rails and restraints are applied for safety and per policy; use proper body mechanics and universal precautions.