Patient Care Associate (PCA) - Progressive Care Unit (PCU) - Lorain Hospital

Mercy Health • Lorain, OH

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Associate provides direct patient care under the guidance of a Registered Nurse or designated health care professional, following applicable regulations and Bon Secours Mercy Health policies and procedures. The position is in the Progressive Care Unit at Lorain Hospital and is scheduled for 36 hours per week on the night shift, 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. This is a collective bargaining unit position.

The associate provides basic patient care and comfort, records vital signs, assists with personal care, hygiene, mobility, feeding, hydration, and other activities of daily living. The role supports patient safety, independence, and individualized care; communicates patient concerns and changes to the nurse; completes accurate documentation; and participates in hand-offs. The associate performs delegated tasks after competency is validated and provides professional, compassionate service to patients, families, visitors, and employees.

The role serves patients across the age groups assigned to the unit and requires knowledge of life-span growth and development to assess and provide appropriate care. Working conditions may involve high stress, fluctuating workloads, noise, bright lights, interruptions, working alone, exposure to hazardous substances or infectious materials, physical altercations or verbal abuse, use of restraints, and adverse weather conditions. Universal precautions and personal protective equipment are required.

The schedule includes every other weekend and holiday. Benefits may vary by market and employment status and include compensation and retirement contributions, insurance and wellbeing resources, paid leave, backup care, and education and development support.

Requirements

• Complete one of the following: a nursing aide training program; STNA state testing (required if OH LTC); 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.
• Clearly communicate with other members of the healthcare team and understand and follow their directions.
• Understand patient and healthcare safety standards, including fall prevention, skin breakdown, suicide prevention, and environment-of-care practices.
• Understand infection prevention and transmission-based precautions.
• Understand clerical duties and office-based technology.
• Demonstrate knowledge of team dynamics, patient data collection and documentation, basic hygiene and activities-of-daily-living care, feeding, hydration, nutrition, bowel and bladder elimination, ambulation, mobility, and clinical technology.
• Demonstrate a compassionate, relationship-based approach, accountability for assigned tasks, and the ability to escalate concerns through the chain of command.
• Possess problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills; engage professionally with staff and patients; and act proactively in a rapidly changing environment.

Nice To Haves

• BLS Basic Life Support certification preferred upon hire; if not held, it must be obtained from an approved source before direct patient care.
• Recent experience in acute care, a physician's office, home health or hospice, or a long-term care facility; experience in the setting of application is preferred.
• EPIC Electronic Health Record experience or training.

Responsibilities

• Provide basic patient care and comfort, including recording vital signs, personal care and hygiene, and assistance with mobility and unit-based specialty duties.
• Act as a liaison between the patient and nurse by reporting changes or concerns.
• Provide high-level customer service to patients, families, visitors, and employees.
• Complete accurate, precise, and timely patient-care documentation when applicable.
• Participate in hand-offs and report pertinent patient and departmental information upon arrival and departure.
• Perform delegated tasks after competency has been validated.
• Mobilize patients using therapeutic transfer techniques that promote independence and safety.
• Encourage patients to complete tasks as independently as possible and provide individualized care based on their interests and hobbies.
• Use professional verbal and written communication.
• Provide age-appropriate care based on patients' needs and the principles of growth and development across the life span.
• Use universal precautions and personal protective equipment and follow infection-control policies.

Benefits

• Competitive pay, incentives, referral bonuses, and a 403(b) with employer contributions when eligible.
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage; HSA/FSA options; life insurance; mental health resources; and discounts.
• Paid time off, parental and FMLA leave, short- and long-term disability, and backup care for children and elders.
• Tuition assistance, professional development, and continuing education support.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed