Patient Care Associate: D5E Neuro Progressive Care, 36 hrs/week, Nights

Albany Medical Center•Albany, NY

1d•$43,599 - $56,679

About The Position

The Patient Care Assistant (PCA) works under the direction of a Registered Nurse and assists the caregiving team in delivering competent, compassionate care to assigned patients. Duties include collecting patient data, providing personal care, performing point-of-care testing such as whole blood glucose, turning and positioning or mobilizing patients, and supporting patients’ progress toward discharge, including during transitions within the acute care stay. The PCA is trained to perform technical procedures such as blood draws and electrocardiography and collaborates with Materials Coordinators to support the availability, stocking, and storage of supplies. The PCA helps create and maintain a clean, orderly, and safe care environment and may serve as an activity companion for patients requiring 1:1 observation. The role includes supporting patient and family participation in care decisions, keeping them informed using standardized techniques, reporting abnormal findings to the RN and care team, participating in care planning and nursing reports, and documenting care in the patient record. This position is in the Neuro Progressive Care - D5E department, works 36 hours per week on the night shift, and has a stated salary range of $43,599.00 to $56,679.00. The role may involve access to sensitive information, including HIPAA-protected health information, which must be accessed and used only as needed for assigned duties and protected from unauthorized access or modification.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
Basic knowledge of medical terminology at medium proficiency.
Ability to communicate cooperatively and effectively with patients, family members, employees, and others.
Honesty, punctuality, and adherence to the highest standards of ethical conduct defined by Albany Medical Center and the tenets of the profession.

Nice To Haves

Less than one year of experience in a health care setting or completion of a certified nurse assistant course.
Experience as a paramedic or emergency technician.

Responsibilities

Collect patient data, including vital signs, height and weight, and food and fluid intake and output.
Report abnormal findings to the RN and patient care team.
Participate in care planning and the nursing report process.
Support patient and family rights to participate in decisions about care.
Use standardized techniques to keep patients and families informed.
Provide personal care, including bathing, oral care, and skin care.
Assist patients with eating, hydration, grooming, dressing, and toileting.
Incorporate safe patient handling into restorative care, including ambulation, range of motion, and use of assistive and prosthetic devices.
Promote a clean, orderly, and safe environment and use standard, transmission-based precautions and infection control techniques.
Provide the RN with details about patient progress toward goals and outcomes.
Document all care in the patient record.
Perform point-of-care testing such as whole blood glucose and technical procedures such as blood draws and electrocardiography, as trained.
Collaborate with Materials Coordinators on the use, stocking, and storage of supplies.
Assist with patient needs during transitions within the acute care stay and support progress toward discharge.
Provide activity companion services for patients requiring 1:1 observation when asked.