Patient Care Associate: C6, 24 HR/wk, Day
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 patient needs with a focus on progress toward discharge and transitions within the acute care stay. PCAs are trained to perform technical procedures such as blood draws and electrocardiography. They collaborate with Materials Coordinators to support the availability, use, stocking, and storage of supplies. The PCA helps maintain a clean, orderly, and safe care environment and may provide activity-companion services for patients requiring 1:1 observation. The role requires protecting sensitive patient information in accordance with applicable laws and Albany Medical Center policies, including limiting access and disclosure to the minimum necessary and safeguarding information from unauthorized access or modification.
Requirements
- High school diploma, G.E.D., 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 as 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 pertinent patient health or situation 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.
- Incorporate patient and family rights to participate in care decisions.
- Use standardized techniques to keep patients and families informed.
- Provide personal care, including bathing, oral care, and skin care.
- Assist patients with eating and hydration, grooming, dressing, and toileting.
- Use safe patient-handling practices during basic restorative care, including ambulation, range of motion, and use of assistive and prosthetic devices.
- Promote a clean, orderly, and safe environment.
- Demonstrate standard and 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 trained technical procedures such as blood draws and electrocardiography.
- Collaborate with Materials Coordinators regarding the use, stocking, and storage of supplies.
- Provide activity-companion service for patients requiring 1:1 observation when asked.
- Protect sensitive information by limiting access and disclosure to the minimum necessary and following applicable policies and standards.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
