Patient Care Technician II

University of Maryland Medical System•Glen Burnie, MD

11d

About The Position

Under the direction of professional nursing staff, the Patient Care Technician II 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 reporting patient status to help identify and address care needs. The technician performs delegated patient-care procedures, documents care and clinical measurements, promotes safety and comfort, and collaborates with the healthcare team to carry out the plan of care. The position also precepts and mentors other Patient Care Technicians and performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Current Maryland state certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) required.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
Able to communicate effectively using verbal and written skills.
Able to maintain interpersonal relationships and use teamwork skills to provide care cohesively with other team members.
Able to organize work priorities, perform several duties simultaneously, and function in stressful situations.
Ability to learn and use computer systems.
Demonstrates proper techniques and skills for obtaining accurate blood glucose results and documenting findings.
Demonstrates ability to perform delegated nursing tasks according to the age, culture, ethnicity, spirituality, and individual diagnostic needs of the persons served.
Demonstrates knowledge, practice, and accountability for skills or procedures requiring aseptic technique.

Nice To Haves

One year of previous experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Performs testing and manages patient care based on 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 helps ensure a safe clinical environment for patients, visitors, and staff.
Maintains the order and appearance of patient rooms and work areas, along with patient-care supplies and linen.
Provides post-mortem care.
Collaborates with healthcare 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 urinary and stool output, calorie counts, and patient weights.
Provides indwelling urinary catheter care; applies, maintains, and removes external urinary catheter devices; performs bladder scans and measures and documents post-void residuals; inserts intermittent and indwelling catheters and documents volume output.
Conducts blood glucose monitoring.
Performs venipuncture to draw blood samples and establishes IV access.
Performs nasal swabs.
Gathers equipment and initiates IV placement as directed by the registered nurse.
Sets up and operates multiple-lead EKG machines, attaches and removes EKG leads, and runs rhythm strips.
Assists with enteral tube feedings through nasogastric or gastrostomy tubes under the supervision of a licensed nurse.
Performs chest physical therapy, tracheal suctioning, tracheostomy care, and incentive spirometry treatments as delegated and supervised by the responsible registered nurse.
Assists with simple dressing changes, including routine dressings for stage one and two wounds, surgical incisions, and peripheral IV sites after assessment by a registered nurse; provides wound and skin care and reports impaired skin or wound integrity.
Assists with collecting patient specimens for laboratory testing, using proper patient identification, collection methods, and documentation.
Provides orthopedic and rehabilitation device care, such as braces, splints, and CPM, and dons or doffs compression wraps and stockings.
Precepts and mentors other Patient Care Technicians (PCT I and PCT II) and ensures completion of documentation.
Participates in hourly patient rounding with the healthcare 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 the 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.