Patient Care Associate (PCA) - Nursing Float Pool - Lorain Hospital

Mercy Health BSMH•Lorain, OH

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Associate (PCA) in the Nursing Float Pool provides direct patient care under the guidance of a registered nurse or designated healthcare professional, following applicable regulations and Bon Secours Mercy Health policies and procedures. The role includes basic patient care, comfort, hygiene, vital-sign recording, mobility assistance, and unit-based specialty duties. The PCA communicates patient concerns and changes to the nurse, documents care accurately and promptly, participates in handoffs, and completes delegated tasks after competency validation. Care should promote patient safety and independence and be tailored to the patient's needs, interests, and age-specific requirements. This is a full-time position scheduled for 36 hours per week in 12-hour shifts, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Rotating weekend and holiday availability is required. The role may involve high stress, fluctuating workloads, noise, bright lights, interruptions, working alone, exposure to bodily fluids or infectious materials, adverse weather, and potential physical altercations or verbal abuse. Universal precautions and personal protective equipment are required.

Requirements

Complete one of the following: a nursing aide training program; STNA state testing (required if working in Ohio long-term care); CNA certification; nurse’s aide state testing; a nursing program with one clinical nursing course and one clinical rotation; one year of relevant clinical-setting experience; or successful completion of a PCA/PCT training program within six months of hire.
Ability to communicate clearly with other members of the healthcare team and to understand and follow their directions.
Knowledge of patient and healthcare safety standards, including fall prevention, skin breakdown, suicide prevention, and environment-of-care practices.
Knowledge of infection prevention and transmission-based precautions.
Understanding of clerical duties and office-based technology.
Knowledge of team dynamics, patient data collection and documentation, basic hygiene and activities-of-daily-living care, feeding, hydration and nutrition, bowel and bladder elimination, ambulation, and patient mobility.
Ability to use clinical technology and provide compassionate, relationship-based care.
Accountability for completing assigned tasks and escalating concerns through the chain of command.
Problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills; ability to engage professionally with staff and patients and be proactive in a rapidly changing environment.
Availability for rotating weekends and holidays.

Nice To Haves

BLS Basic Life Support certification upon hire; otherwise, it must be obtained from an approved source before providing direct patient care.
Recent experience in acute care, a physician's office, home health or hospice, or a long-term care facility; preference for experience in the setting to which the applicant is applying.
EPIC Electronic Health Record experience.

Responsibilities

Provide basic patient care, including comfort, vital signs, personal care and hygiene, mobility assistance, and unit-based specialty duties.
Report patient changes or concerns to the nurse and serve as a liaison between the patient and nurse.
Provide customer service to patients, families, visitors, and employees.
Document patient care accurately, precisely, and promptly when applicable.
Participate in handoffs and report pertinent patient and departmental information when arriving and leaving.
Perform delegated tasks after competency has been validated.
Mobilize patients using therapeutic transfer techniques that promote safety and independence.
Encourage patients to complete tasks as independently as possible.
Individualize care based on patients' interests and hobbies.
Use professional verbal and written communication.
Provide age-appropriate care based on patients' status, development, and specific needs.
Follow universal precautions, use personal protective equipment, and comply with infection-control policies.