Patient Care Technician Senior - Acute Care Cardiac (Harrisburg Hospital)

UPMC•Harrisburg, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position performs UPMC nursing core responsibilities, including blood glucose monitoring, weights, vital signs, intake and output, specimen collection, and Foley care. The role requires successful completion of a Basic Arrhythmia class and proficiency in at least four hospital-identified tasks such as phlebotomy, 12-lead EKGs, simple dressings, Foley catheter removal, point of care testing, bladder scans, straight catheterization, IV catheter removal, femoral hemostasis, or IV insertion. The Patient Care Technician Senior is expected to suggest and support departmental changes, view problems as challenges, and demonstrate awareness of their impact on departmental efficiency. They will support department-based projects and quality initiatives, constructively receive feedback, identify and communicate learning needs to the unit director, and take action to improve their knowledge, skills, and performance. Assistance may be requested for planning and prioritizing activities, and participation in self-reviews is expected. The role involves participating in project and committee work, strictly adhering to all policies and procedures related to patient care and hospital information, and complying with safety policies including standard precautions. Documentation in the medical record must follow established procedures, and assigned work should be performed in a timely and productive manner. This role includes transporting cardiac monitored patients within the hospital, and may involve inserting Foley catheters and performing straight catheterization as instructed by the RN. IV insertion, removal, and dressing changes may also be performed. Departmental clerical functions are also part of the duties. The technician provides patient care, assists with patient procedures and activities of daily living, and assists with physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies. Feedback to the RN regarding patient care and reporting changes in patient status is crucial. Instruction to patients and their families may be provided under the direction of the RN. Patient restraints may be applied, monitored, and removed as per physician or hospital protocol. Equipment malfunctions must be reported, and effective communication with other departments is essential. Professional and respectful interpersonal relationships are to be established, and contribution to universal unit activities, such as responding to call lights, telephones, passing meal trays, and transporting patients, is expected. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the health care team is demonstrated, along with an understanding of cultural diversity, horizontal violence, and impairment in the health professions. Safety in the workplace is supported for both patients and self. Productive working relationships are developed and maintained through accountability, enthusiasm, motivation, and commitment to patients and colleagues. Routine performance and full competency with UPMC nursing core assistant responsibilities are required, including ADLs (bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating, turning, and repositioning patients), point of care testing (including blood glucose), weights, vital signs, I&O, telemetry monitor application/reapplication, hospital-acquired condition and patient safety indicators. Additionally, simple dressings, placement and removal of restraints, bladder scans, all specimen collections, and ticket to ride (intra-hospital patient transportation) are included. Beyond standard competencies, the Patient Care Technician - Senior will achieve and maintain competency in and/or perform at least one or more advanced skills based on department operational needs, such as basic arrhythmia, complex wound care, 12-lead EKGs, and NG tube clamping and removal. The role also involves documenting in the medical record according to procedures, transporting cardiac monitored patients, completing clerical functions, and potentially transporting medications between departments.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Either a) 2 years of general healthcare experience and meet requirements of Patient Care Technician title, OR b) 1 year of experience and enrollment in PT/OT/PA program with completion of at least one clinical rotation, or c) 1 year of experience and completion of a bachelor's degree in a health sciences field.
Annual completion of a professional contribution to be determined after hire.
Successful completion of patient care technician senior class.
Successful completion of eRecord training.
CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.
Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Act 34.

Nice To Haves

Nursing Student that has completed one clinical rotation preferred.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic or currently enrolled in an EMT or Paramedic program preferred.
May require successful completion of the appropriate UPMC cardiac rhythm course as determined by organizational guidelines and unit-based clinical operations.
ACLS preferred.

Responsibilities

Performs UPMC nursing core responsibilities (blood glucose, weights, vital signs, I&O, specimen collections and Foley care).
Successfully completes Basic Arrhythmia class.
Performs at least 4 of the following hospital identified tasks: phlebotomy, 12 lead EKG, simple dressing, Foley catheter removal, point of care testing, bladder scan, straight catheter, IV catheter removal, femoral hemostasis, or IV insertion.
Suggests and supports changes within the department.
Assumes responsibility for assignment and views problems as challenges.
Demonstrates awareness of behavior on the efficient functioning of the department.
Supports department based projects and quality initiatives.
Constructively receives feedback and direction.
Identifies and communicates learning needs to the unit director.
Takes action to improve knowledge, skills and performance.
Requests assistance in planning and prioritizing activities as needed.
Participates in self-review as requested by the unit director.
Participates in project and committee work.
Strictly adheres to all policies and procedures relative to patient care and hospital related information.
Complies with safety policies and procedures including standard precautions.
Documents in the medical record according to established procedures.
Performs assigned work in a timely and productive manner.
Transports cardiac monitored patients within the hospital setting.
May insert Foley catheters and perform straight catheterization as instructed by RN.
May perform IV insertion, removal and dressing change.
Completes department clerical functions as needed.
Provides patient care including assisting with patient procedures and activities of daily living.
Assists with physical, respiratory and cardiopulmonary therapies.
Provides feedback to the RN regarding patient care and reports changes in patient status.
Provides instruction to patients and their families under the direction of the RN.
May apply, monitor and remove patient restraints as per physician or hospital protocol.
Assures equipment malfunctions are reported to the appropriate department.
Establishes appropriate and effective communication with other departments.
Establishes professional and respectful interpersonal relationships.
Contributes to the universal unit activities including, but not limited to, responding to call lights and telephones, passing meal trays and transporting patients.
Demonstrates the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the health care team.
Demonstrates understanding of cultural diversity, horizontal violence and impairment in the health professions.
Cares for patients and self by supporting safety in the workplace.
Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by demonstrating accountability for actions, enthusiasm, motivation and commitment to patients and colleagues.
Routinely performs and is fully competent with UPMC nursing core assistant responsibilities including ADLs (bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating, turning and repositioning patients).
Performs point of care testing (inc. blood glucose), weights, vital signs, I&O, telemetry monitor application/reapplication, hospital-acquired condition & patient safety indicator.
Performs simple dressings, placement and removal of restraints, bladder scan, all specimen collections and ticket to ride (intra-hospital patient transportation).
Achieves and maintains competency and/or performs at least 1 or more of the following advanced skills based on department operational need: basic arrhythmia, complex wound care, 12-lead EKGs, and NG tubes clamping and removal.
Documents in the medical record according to established procedures.
Transports cardiac monitored patients within the hospital setting.
Completes department clerical functions as needed.
May, in the course of their duties, be in rooms where medications are stored or may transport medications when they transport patients.
Transportation of medication is limited from one department to another.