Patient Care Tech - Neurosurgery Trauma Progressive Care - Rotating
About The Position
The Patient Care Technician provides direct, age-specific care to a patient or group of patients based on medical orders and the plan of care, under the direction of an RN or licensed independent practitioner. The role is based in the Acute Neuroscience Trauma unit, the primary unit for acute and progressive-care neurology and neurosurgery patients. The unit is part of a Level I Trauma Center and a Joint Commission-accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center of Excellence. Patients include people with brain and spinal cord injuries, strokes, seizures, and movement disorders. The position offers experience caring for patients with lumbar drains, stable ventilators, tracheostomies, complex wounds, and postoperative needs in a fast-paced, high-acuity setting. The unit collaborates with other services to provide safe, patient-centered care. The technician provides care in accordance with nursing and medical plans of care and VCUHS policies and procedures. The role includes monitoring and documenting patient information, supporting comfort, hygiene, nutrition, mobility, and safety, maintaining a safe and clean clinical environment, and communicating patient responses or safety concerns to the healthcare team. Care must be appropriate to the ages and developmental needs of patients served, from neonates through older adults. Working conditions may include high stress and fluctuating workloads, interruptions, high noise levels and bright lights, verbal abuse or physical altercations, possible use of physical restraints, and exposure to hazardous substances, body fluids, blood, and other potentially infectious materials. Universal precautions and personal protective equipment are required. The role involves physical activity such as lifting and carrying, pushing and pulling, climbing, stooping, kneeling, squatting, balancing, bending, sitting, walking, and standing. Additional demands and hazards include shift work, maneuvering patient weight, manual dexterity, repetitive arm and hand movements, hearing alarms, exposure to chemicals and moving mechanical parts, and exposure to X-rays or electromagnetic energy.
Requirements
- High school degree or equivalent.
- Certification or completion of one of the following: Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, Military Corpsmen/Medic, or Nursing Aide Training Program; alternatively, completion of a foundations/clinical nursing course and one clinical rotation.
- Experience within a healthcare environment, unless qualifying through the stated nursing-course and clinical-rotation alternative.
- AHA BLS HCP Certification or equivalent.
- Knowledge of patient data collection and documentation, including vital signs, intake and output, and changes in patient condition.
- Knowledge of basic hygiene and activities of daily living care.
- Ability to assist with feeding, hydration, and nutrition.
- Ability to assist with ambulation and patient mobility.
- Ability to provide safe, compassionate care and be accountable for completing assigned tasks.
- Ability to wear personal protective equipment as needed.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, inclusive behavior, and proactive management of bias.
- Ability to meet the stated physical, sensory, and emotional demands, including lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling up to 100 pounds, shift work, patient maneuvering, and adapting to a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and frequent change.
Nice To Haves
- Certified Nursing Assistant education or credential.
- Acute-care experience as a nursing assistant or aide.
Responsibilities
- Provide safe, direct, age-appropriate care to patients in the assigned unit and monitor their conditions, updating the healthcare team as needed.
- Provide direct and indirect care to patients with and without medical or surgical complications to meet comfort, personal hygiene, and safety needs.
- Deliver care in accordance with nursing and medical plans of care and VCUHS policies and procedures.
- Maintain the assigned clinical location as a safe, clean, and stocked environment.
- Maintain supplies, educational materials, equipment, and, as applicable, sterilization of supplies and instruments.
- Contribute to the patient experience by accurately identifying patients and observing safety goals.
- Report patients’ physical and mental responses to the plan of care, and incidents that pose harm or threat, to a licensed independent practitioner, manager, and/or Registered Nurse.
- Obtain and record initial and ongoing patient information, including admissions data, vital signs, height and weight, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, intake and output, calorie counts, and other information specified by VCUHS policy.
- Obtain or assist with collecting specimens for diagnostic or waived tests.
- Attend mandatory in-services and trainings and meet online training requirements.
- Promote patient safety through job performance and participation in hospital, department, or unit safety initiatives.
- Maintain courteous and effective rapport with patients, visitors, coworkers, and other healthcare team members; respond promptly to verbal and written instructions.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Provide equitable care appropriate to patients’ ages and developmental needs, applying relevant growth and development knowledge and competencies.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
