T with Benefits Night

Hackensack Meridian Health•North Bergen, NJ

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician provides direct, age-appropriate patient care on an assigned service, supporting patients’ physical, psychosocial, educational, and safety needs. The role contributes to safe patient outcomes through sound judgment, timely communication with patients and the healthcare team, and participation in interdisciplinary care planning from admission through discharge. The technician collects and documents clinical information and specimens, performs assigned procedures such as venipuncture and EKGs, assists with personal hygiene, comfort, meals, mobility, and transport, and helps maintain a safe, clean, and properly equipped patient-care environment. The position also includes responding to call lights, recognizing changes in patient condition and promptly notifying the RN, supporting patient satisfaction, and participating in unit performance-improvement activities.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent GED program.
Completion of a Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, or Patient Care Technician program; a Fundamentals of Nursing program from an accredited nursing school; the HMH PCT Apprenticeship Program; or equivalent medical-background experience such as EMT, Home Health Aide, CMA, MA, PCT, or Nursing Assistant.
Candidates who have not completed one of the listed programs but meet the other requirements may be considered for selection into the HMH PCT Apprentice Program; upon successful completion, they will be transferred to the Patient Care Technician role.
Ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing patient needs.
Strong accountability for improving the lives of patients and caregivers.
Strong teamwork focus, dedication to ongoing education, and commitment to high-quality, patient-focused care and service.
AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification within 60 days of entering the position.

Nice To Haves

Experience or certification in phlebotomy and in performing EKGs, checking vital signs, and checking blood sugar.
At least one year of PCT or CNA experience in a hospital setting, or eligibility for the HMH PCT Apprentice Program.
CNA, CMA, or PCT certification from a program that includes phlebotomy, EKG, and nursing-assistant coursework in both theoretical and clinical settings.

Responsibilities

Provide patient care appropriate to patients’ physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and age-related needs.
Support safe patient outcomes through sound practice, judgment, and critical actions.
Communicate with patients, nursing colleagues, and other healthcare-team members about patient status and care provided.
Participate in interdisciplinary care planning from admission through discharge to support safe transitions and continuity of care.
Participate in Unit/Department Performance Improvement activities.
Welcome patients and verify identification bracelets.
Prepare patients for assessment, admission, physical examinations, and procedures.
Recognize opportunities to improve patient satisfaction.
Obtain and document temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation; promptly notify the RN of abnormal results.
Draw intravenous or capillary blood using appropriate aseptic techniques, and correctly label and process specimens.
Perform venipuncture for laboratory tests.
Collect, label, and transport specimens to the appropriate location at the appropriate time.
Perform EKGs as directed.
Ensure necessary equipment is present, functional, and clean; check and maintain the code cart, oxygen, and other emergency equipment as directed.
Apply bandages, slings, compression boots, and hypothermia blankets according to standards and as directed by the RN.
Assist with patient transport to departments or units as requested.
Assist with meal preparation and feeding as needed.
Check inventory and restock the assigned area as directed.
Prepare the room environment for patient admission.
Provide hygiene and comfort care, including bathing, toileting, oral hygiene, incontinence care, and bed making.
Assist patients with dressing and undressing, manage belongings using the property checklist, and monitor the return of clothing to family.
Perform and document glucose finger sticks and collect other specimens as directed.
Provide post-mortem care.
Obtain and document patient weights and observe and document intake and output.
Maintain a safe patient environment by answering call lights promptly and immediately notifying the RN of changes in patient condition.
Adapt care to patient needs, including age, culture, language, and hearing or visual impairment, and communicate at the patient’s or caregiver’s appropriate developmental, educational, and literacy level.
Complete other assigned duties or projects and adhere to HMH organizational competencies and standards of behavior.