Patient Care Technician - Progressive Care Unit Days - 24hrs/wk

University of Michigan Health-West•Wyoming, MI

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 Progressive Care Unit. This is a day-shift position scheduled for 24 hours per week (0.6 FTE), with every-other-weekend work and no on-call requirement. The PCT assists patients with activities of daily living, comfort, hygiene, nutrition, elimination, and mobility; performs specified basic procedures and measurements; collects specimens; uses equipment safely; supports infection control; documents care as directed by the RN; and communicates patient observations and care information to the RN. The PCT may also complete other assigned duties to facilitate department efficiency and maintain knowledge of department processes and procedures.

Requirements

Minimum high school diploma or GED.
Meet at least one of the following: current Certified Nurse Aide (CENA) certification; current enrollment with continued progression in a health science program; or equivalent experience.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) provider certification.
Ability 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.
Basic understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and patient confidentiality is preferred.
Experience in an acute care or extended care facility is preferred.
Equivalent enrollment may 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.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with activities of daily living and comfort, including making beds, turning and positioning, ambulating and dangling, transfers, and passive or assisted 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 dietary intake.
Assist with elimination needs, record accurate intake and output, and empty other drains as designated by the RN.
Collect and label sputum, urine, and stool specimens; 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 using oral and tympanic thermometers, radial and apical pulse measurements, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and 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 specified comfort, support, anti-embolism, compression, and restraint devices.
Help control the spread of infection by using aseptic technique and standard precautions, caring for patients under special isolation precautions, handling linen and sharps appropriately, and cleaning equipment between patients and before return to Central Processing Department.
Document care as directed by the RN.
Communicate using Vocera, unit paging, telephone, and pneumatic tube systems; answer patient call lights; report observations to the RN; keep the RN informed of care delivered; and maintain patient confidentiality.
Perform other assigned duties, including tasks delegated by the RN in charge to support department efficiency.
Maintain knowledge of department processes and procedures, pursue self-directed learning and continuing education, and participate in committees, task forces, and work groups as determined by management.