Patient Care Tech - Float Pool PT Days

Torrance Memorial Medical Center•Torrance, CA

About The Position

Under the direction of an RN, the Patient Care Tech works cooperatively with team members to provide basic direct patient care, transport services, and general support. The technician is accountable for care provided and follows standards of care within the identified scope of practice. The role includes patient communication, rounding and documentation, responding to calls, assisting with transfers and mobility, maintaining a safe and clean environment, and performing clinical tasks as directed by the RN and applicable policies. The technician may provide coverage for unit secretaries or other patient care technicians and assist with emergency response situations. Department-specific duties include maintaining traction and trapeze equipment and, in the ICCU only, applying pressure after RN or MD removal of an arterial line and recording pedal pulses.

Requirements

Meet at least one of the following: CNA certification; successful completion of the first semester of an RN program; graduation from an RN program while awaiting the next in-house New Grad Residency Program application process; current National Registry EMT or LA County EMT certification; current California EMS Authority (EMSA) paramedic license; or Certified Medical Assistant license/certification.
Obtain BCLS or ACLS certification from the American Heart Association within six months of hire.

Responsibilities

Provide basic direct patient care, transport services, and general support under RN direction.
Communicate with patients and families using AIDET; introduce self, update patient white boards, explain the care environment, and refer questions to the RN as needed.
Implement assigned patient care plans, including patient care, repositioning, responding to call lights, and transporting patients.
Perform purposeful hourly rounds and document actions and observations.
Answer telephone and patient call systems promptly and relay messages appropriately.
Receive report from the RN, establish care priorities with the RN, and promptly report unfamiliar or changing conditions and abnormal findings.
Prepare rooms for admissions and clean, disassemble, and restock rooms after transfers or discharges.
Maintain a safe environment, including keeping beds locked and low, keeping rooms and corridors clear, checking equipment, and assisting with safe mobility and transfers.
Order and restock appropriate patient-care supplies, refill nurse servers, and place charge documents in the appropriate location.
Protect medication security by restricting access to authorized personnel.
Use appropriate safe-patient-handling equipment and request assistance when needed for turning or moving patients.
Verify patient identity using the identity band and verify the medical record number before blood administration.
Apply fall precautions, including keeping beds or gurneys locked, raising side rails, keeping call lights accessible when available, assisting with transfers and ambulation, and maintaining a clutter-free environment.
Follow infection-prevention practices, including hand hygiene, isolation policies, and proper infectious-waste disposal.
Perform and document vital signs as ordered or required by unit policy and notify the RN of changes or abnormal findings.
Apply and monitor oxygen as directed by the RN; apply, monitor, and document restraints.
Assist with postoperative coughing, turning, and deep-breathing exercises, and keep comfort supplies accessible.
Collect specimens using appropriate techniques and perform point-of-care testing, quality control, and maintenance, including uploading monitoring-device data.
Obtain blood and blood products from the Blood Bank according to policy and procedure.
Prepare patients for examinations and treatments, including draping, equipment setup, and stocking supplies for bedside procedures.
Assist with or perform treatments as directed by the RN, including weight application, ambulation, Foley care, binders, orthopedic devices, and sitz baths.
Apply EKG leads and set up monitors; perform basic and 12-lead EKGs when the EKG technician is unavailable, follow Cardiology Department procedures for filing and recording, and promptly provide the RN with the EKG printout.
Assist the MD or RN with applying skin traction according to MD orders and set up traction bars, orthopedic devices, and related equipment as ordered.
Assist with cast removal when an Ortho tech is not on duty.
Accurately document intake and output for the assigned shift, including outputs from specified drains, tubes, and collection devices.
Report equipment problems to the house supervisor.
Assist the house supervisor or nurse manager with family viewings of deceased patients by preparing the viewing area and body.
Provide break coverage for unit secretaries, other PCTs, and comparable positions.
Assist with transfers by collecting belongings, helping the patient into a wheelchair or gurney, accompanying the patient to the new room, and providing a call light.
Transport deceased patients to the morgue and identify the body according to policy.
Activate and participate in emergency response situations as directed by policy.
Maintain traction and trapeze equipment in good order and store it safely.
In the ICCU only, apply physical pressure after A-line removal by an RN or MD and record pedal pulses.