Patient Care Technician I

University of Maryland Medical System•Bel Air, MD

5d•$18 - $25

About The Position

Under the direction of professional nursing staff, the Patient Care Technician I provides direct patient care, including taking vital signs, checking surgical dressings, assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), drawing blood, and collecting specimens. The technician observes and collects patient data, communicates patient status to help identify needs, and provides needed care as a member of the interdisciplinary patient care services team. The role includes conducting and documenting patient care across the care continuum, supporting patient safety and comfort, collaborating with the health care team, and helping maintain patient rooms, supplies, and the clinical environment. Additional duties may be assigned.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Current Maryland state certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA).
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to maintain interpersonal relationships and work cohesively with other team members.
Ability to organize work priorities, perform several duties simultaneously, and function in stressful situations.
Ability to learn and use computer systems.
Demonstrated proper technique and skills for obtaining accurate blood glucose results and documenting findings.
Ability to perform delegated nursing tasks according to the age, culture, ethnicity, spirituality, and individual diagnostic needs of the persons served.

Responsibilities

Performs testing and manages patient care based on results and clinical findings.
Records patient care, including assistance with feeding, bathing, dressing, toileting, and transferring.
Completes, documents, and reports vital signs, including temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation, and reported pain level.
Assists with patient admission, transfer, and discharge.
Participates in cost-effective strategies to optimize patient outcomes.
Promotes patient safety, including fall prevention, and helps ensure a safe clinical environment for patients, visitors, and staff.
Maintains the order and appearance of patient rooms and work areas, as well as patient care supplies and linen.
Provides post-mortem care.
Collaborates with health care team members to carry out the plan of care and reports observed changes in patients’ conditions.
Supports patient comfort in relation to pain status.
Measures and documents dietary intake, urinary and stool output, calorie counts, and patient weight.
Provides indwelling urinary catheter care and applies, maintains, and removes external urinary catheter devices.
Conducts blood glucose monitoring.
Performs venipuncture for blood samples and establishes IV access.
Provides wound care, skin care, and hygiene to promote healing and preserve skin integrity; reports impaired skin integrity or wounds and assists with appropriate care strategies or treatment measures.
Assists with collecting patient specimens for laboratory testing, using proper patient identification, collection techniques, and documentation.
Provides orthopedic and rehabilitation device care, including braces, splints, and CPM; dons and doffs compression wraps or stockings.
Participates in hourly patient rounding with the health care team.
Responds to patient-triggered alarms, including call lights, chair alarms, bed alarms, and tele-sitter alarms.
Complies with The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals within scope of practice.
Detects, reports, and acts to avoid or correct safety risks; reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority.
Maintains professional vigilance for assigned patients, including when assigned as a patient safety companion.
Uses safe lifting techniques and body mechanics in daily practice.
Helps improve patient flow and prevent care delays.
Performs other duties as assigned.