Patient Care Technician I

University of Maryland Medical System•Towson, MD

About The Position

Under the direction of professional nursing staff, the Patient Care Technician I provides direct patient care and serves as a member of the interdisciplinary patient care services team. The role includes taking vital signs, checking surgical dressings, assisting with activities of daily living, drawing blood, collecting specimens, and observing and communicating patient status to identify needs and provide appropriate care. The position supports patient safety, comfort, and care coordination by carrying out delegated nursing tasks, documenting care and clinical measurements, collaborating with the health care team, and helping maintain patient rooms and supplies. Duties may also include patient safety companion assignments and other tasks as 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.
Ability to communicate effectively using verbal and written skills.
Ability to maintain interpersonal relationships and use teamwork skills to provide care 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 techniques 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.

Nice To Haves

Previous direct patient care experience in a health care facility.

Responsibilities

Performs testing and manages patient care based on test results and clinical findings.
Records patient care across the continuum, 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 maintains a safe clinical environment for patients, visitors, and staff.
Maintains the order and appearance of patient rooms and work areas, and maintains patient care supplies and linen.
Provides post-mortem care.
Collaborates with the health care team 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 to draw blood samples and establishes IV access.
Provides wound care, skin care, and hygiene; reports impaired skin integrity or wound impairment and assists with appropriate wound-care strategies or treatment measures.
Assists with collecting patient specimens for laboratory testing, using appropriate patient identification, collection techniques, and documentation.
Provides care for orthopedic and rehabilitation devices, such as braces, splints, and CPM, and dons or doffs compression wraps and stockings.
Participates in hourly patient rounding with the health care team.
Responds to patient-triggered alarms, including call-light, chair, bed, and tele-sitter alarms.
Complies with The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals within the scope of practice.
Detects, reports, and acts to avoid or correct safety risks; reports adverse events and near misses to the 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.