Patient Care Tech - Medical Respiratory ICU - Rotating - PRN

VCU Health•Richmond, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Respiratory Intensive Care Unit (MRICU) is a 28-bed unit specializing in the care of patients with multisystem organ failure and complex pulmonary needs. Our patients have various respiratory disorders and failures, such as COPD, ARDS, status asthmaticus, and pneumonia. The unit also provides care for patients with sepsis, GI bleeds, DKA, oncological issues, acute kidney and liver dysfunction, and acid-base and metabolic imbalances, utilizing the latest advances in care delivery. Through collaboration with an interprofessional team, the MRICU nurses translate evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and research into clinical bedside practice to advance safe and quality care. The MRICU is located on the 4th floor of the Critical Care Hospital. It is a 28-bed adult ICU caring for complex medical and pulmonary patients, including those post-codes, with sepsis, GI bleeds, DKA, renal and liver failure, and those requiring various bedside procedures and advanced pulmonary and invasive interventions. Nurse-to-patient ratios are 1:1 and 1:2, with 24/7 support from a charge nurse, unlicensed assistive personnel, and a unit secretary. The Patient Care Technician provides direct, age-specific care to patients based on medical orders and the plan of care, under the direction of the RN or licensed independent practitioner. This includes providing safe and direct care, monitoring patient conditions and updating the healthcare team, and assisting with comfort, personal hygiene, and safety needs. Care is delivered in accordance with nursing and medical plans of care and VCUHS Nursing and Hospital policy and procedure. The technician is also responsible for maintaining a safe, clean, and stocked environment, managing supplies, and contributing to the patient experience by identifying patients, observing safety goals, and reporting patient responses or incidents to the appropriate personnel. They obtain and record patient information, including vital signs, intake/output, and other data as outlined by policy, and may assist in collecting specimens. Attendance at mandatory in-services and trainings is required, as is adherence to online training requirements. Patient safety is a key responsibility, as is establishing and maintaining courteous and effective rapport with patients, visitors, co-workers, and the healthcare team.

Requirements

High School Degree or equivalent
AHA BLS HCP Certification or equivalent
Certification/Completion of one of the following: Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, Military Corpsmen/Medic, Nursing Aide Training Program, Experience within a healthcare environment OR Completion of foundations/ clinical nursing course and one clinical rotation.
Knowledge of patient data collection and documentation (i.e. vital signs, intake/output, change 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
Accountability for completion of assigned tasks
Ability to wear personal protective equipment as needed
Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.
Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination)
Perform shift work
Maneuver weight of patients
Hear alarms/telephone/tape recorder
Reach above shoulder
Repetitive arm/hand movements
Finger Dexterity
Strong Recall
Reasoning
Problem solving
Hearing
Speak clearly
Write legibly
Reading
Logical Thinking
Fast pace environment
Able to handle multiple priorities
Frequent and intense customer interactions
Noisy environment
Able to adapt to frequent change

Nice To Haves

Certified Nursing Assistant
Acute care experience as a nursing assistant or aide experience

Responsibilities

Provide safe and direct care to patients in their assigned unit making age-appropriate adjustments as needed.
Monitor patients’ conditions and provide updates to the health care team.
Provide direct and indirect care to patients with and without medical/surgical complications to meet their comfort, personal hygiene and safety needs.
Provide care in accordance with nursing and medical plans of care and deliver per VCUHS Nursing and Hospital policy and procedure.
Ensure assigned clinical location is maintained as a safe, clean, stocked environment to facilitate meeting patient needs and unit/healthcare team functioning.
Maintain supplies, educational material, equipment, sterilization of supplies, instruments and the environment to promote quality, safe patient care outcomes (as applicable).
Contribute to the patient experience by accurately identifying the patient, by observing safety goals and reporting to a licensed independent practitioner, manager and/or Registered Nurses regarding the patient’s physical and mental responses to the plan of care or any incident posing harm or threat to a patient.
Obtain and record initial and ongoing patient information throughout the cycle of care, including admissions data, vital signs, height and weight, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, intake and output, calorie counts, and other patient information as outlined by VCUHS policy
Obtain or assist in the collection of specimens for diagnostic or waived tests.
Attend all mandatory in-services and trainings and adhere to online training requirements.
Ensure patient safety in the performance of job functions and through participation in hospital, department or unit patient safety initiatives.
Establish and maintain courteous and effective rapport with patients, visitors, co-workers, and other members of health care team; demonstrate sensitivity and awareness to needs of patients, visitors and co-workers and respond promptly to verbal and/or written instructions.
Performs other duties, as assigned