Patient Care Technician - Post-Surgical Unit Days - 12hrs/wk

umhealthwest • Wyoming, MI

20h

About The Position

Under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN), the Patient Care Technician (PCT) provides basic nursing care to patients and performs related tasks necessary to support the Post-Surgical Unit. The position is day shift, 12 hours per week, with an FTE status of 0.3. On-call work is not required; weekend work is required.

The PCT supports patients with daily activities, comfort, hygiene, nutrition, elimination, and procedures within the duties described. The role also includes collecting specimens, measuring and recording vital signs and weight, using patient-care equipment safely, supporting infection-control practices, documenting care as directed by the RN, and communicating with patients and staff using unit systems. Additional duties may be assigned to facilitate department efficiency, maintain knowledge of department processes, pursue learning and continuing education, and participate in committees or work groups as determined by management.

Requirements

• Minimum high school diploma or GED.
• Meet at least one of the following: current Certified Nurse Aide (CENA) certification; current enrollment and continued progression in a health science program; or equivalent experience.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) provider certification.
• Able to successfully complete unit-specific core competencies as defined in the orientation checklist.

Nice To Haves

• For health science program enrollment, completion of a nursing fundamentals course and/or one clinical rotation is preferred. Considered programs include nursing school, pre-PA school, medical school, or a closely related health science program.
• Equivalent experience may include Medical Assistant, Paramedic, Medical First Responder, EMT, Nurse Tech, Resident Aid/Assistant, or LPN experience.
• Basic understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and patient confidentiality is preferred.
• Experience in an acute care or extended care facility is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist patients with activities of daily living and comfort, including making beds, turning and positioning patients, ambulating and dangling patients, transferring patients, and performing passive or assisting with active range-of-motion exercises.
• Assist patients with hygiene activities.
• Provide indwelling urinary catheter care, excluding insertion, removal, and irrigation; change non-sterile dressings; provide ileostomy or colostomy care; and assist with postmortem care.
• Assist with nutrition by passing trays, snacks, and drinking water; feeding patients; and measuring and recording intake from dietary trays.
• Assist patients with elimination needs, accurately record intake and output, and empty other drains as designated by the RN.
• Collect and label sputum, urine, and stool specimens for laboratory testing; test urine for sugar, acetone, blood, or pH; strain urine for kidney stones; and use a glucometer to test blood glucose levels.
• Measure and record vital signs and weight, including oral and tympanic temperature, radial and apical pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and weight using standing, chair, sling, and bed scales.
• Use equipment and supplies safely and appropriately, including assisting with incentive spirometry, setting up oxygen flow meters and suction equipment, disposing of suction canisters, and applying or removing listed comfort and support devices.
• Help control the spread of infection by using aseptic technique and standard precautions; following special isolation precautions; handling clean and soiled linen appropriately; replacing full sharps containers; and cleaning equipment between patients and before return to Central Processing Department.
• Document care provided as directed by the RN.
• Communicate effectively using Vocera, unit paging, telephone, and pneumatic tube systems; answer patient call lights; report observations to the RN; keep the RN informed about care delivered; and maintain patient confidentiality.
• Perform other assigned duties, including tasks delegated by the RN in charge to support department efficiency, maintaining knowledge of department processes and procedures, pursuing self-directed learning and continuing education, and participating in committees, task forces, and work groups as determined by management.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: High school or GED