Patient Care Companion - Behavioral Health 1.0 2nd shift

American Addiction Centers•Park Ridge, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Companion - Behavioral Health is responsible for ensuring a secure and safe environment by maintaining a continued awareness of safety hazards and observation of the patient. This role involves following established policies and procedures for various precautions (suicide, seizure, falls, elopement, restraining) and emergency plans. The companion will accompany assigned patients at all times during walks, to ancillary departments, and for personal care needs. Additionally, they provide general patient care duties as directed by the registered nurse, including assisting with personal hygiene, ambulation, positioning, and ensuring the use of special patient supplies. The role also involves meeting nutritional needs by assisting with meal selection, tray setup, and monitoring intake/output. Maintaining patient confidentiality and communicating respectfully with patients, families, and health professionals are key aspects. The companion contributes to the patient plan of care through documentation and communication of patient needs and observed changes to the healthcare provider. They also act as a patient/family advocate, providing comfort and assistance, and supporting patient/family teaching. Efficient unit operations are maintained through responding to emergency situations, attending mandatory inservices, and practicing infection control standards.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Current CPR.
Good communication skills.
Courteous and professional interpersonal skills.
Highly compassionate.
Basic reading skills.
Ability to demonstrate a commitment to patient-focused care.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with established time constraints and in difficult situations.
Ability to perform lifting/transfer activities related to patients (up to 35 pounds without assistance).
Ability to work designated shifts including weekends and holidays.
Ability to transport objects from one location to another.
This position needs to recognize needs and behaviors of specific age groups of patients treated.

Nice To Haves

Responsibilities

Ensures a secure and safe environment by maintaining a continued awareness of safety hazards and observation of the patient.
Never leaves assigned patient unattended, ensures that patient is continuously monitored before leaving room, i.e., breaks, end of shift, to accompany patient on transport.
Follows established policies and procedures for precautions, i.e., suicide, seizure, falls, elopement, restraining, provides restraint alternatives when appropriate; i.e., diversional activities.
Follows established policies and procedures for emergency plans and codes.
Accompanies assigned patient at all times, i.e., walks in the hallway to various ancillary departments, bathroom, shower, etc.
Provides am or pm care to include making occupied or unoccupied bed, bed bath, oral and denture care, shave back rub, and skin care.
Assists patient with ordered activity, i.e., ambulation, getting up to chair and back to bed, positioning, etc.
Assists with toileting needs of the patient including care of the incontinent patient and proper diaper usage; demonstrates awareness of patients with high risk of skin breakdown.
Ensures special patient supplies and appliances are provided and maintained such as TED hose, sequential compression devices, K-pads, cooling mattresses, etc.
When assigned to general floor duty, responds to call lights and communicates all patient requests in a timely manner to the registered nurse.
Provides proper tray set-up and patient positioning with consideration to special needs.
Assists patient in menu selection.
Provides accurate information to registered nurse for intake/output.
When assigned to general floor duty, assists in tray distribution and passing of waters/juices as directed by registered nurse; pick-up trays of patients who are not on intake/output or caloric monitoring.
Reviews dietary order and tray to ensure the patient is receiving the proper diet, communicates need for reordering to the registered nurse.
Assists patient with meals, feeding if needed.
Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
Communicates with patients, families, and other health professionals in a positive and respectful manner.
Supports patient/family teaching by working with all members of the health care team and seeks out the registered nurse when clinical information is requested, notifies the RN when family questions arise.
Documents patient information on Treatment Flowsheet (safety, cares and activity).
Communicates patient needs and observed changes in assigned patients’ behavior to RN caring for patient.
Communicates a verbal change of shift report on assigned patients to RN caring for patient and oncoming Patient Care Companion.
Acts as a patient/family advocate by providing comfort, assistance, and information as appropriate, assists in the orientation of the patient and family to the environment.
Demonstrates awareness of the patient’s plan of care, i.e., activity, diet, diversional needs, family and social issues.
Demonstrates ability to respond to emergency situations.
Maintains and develops technical skills by attending mandatory yearly inservices.
Practices within the policies and procedures of infection control by properly disposing of contaminated materials and utilizing proper attire when in direct contact with the patient in isolation.

Benefits

Comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs
Competitive compensation
Generous retirement offerings
Programs that invest in your career development
Paid Time Off programs
Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
Educational Assistance Program