Patient Care Technician Behavioral Health FT Night - Ball Memorial

IU Health•Muncie, IN

About The Position

IU Health is seeking a Patient Care Technician (also known as a Patient Care Assistant or PCA) to provide bedside care and a positive patient experience. The role involves anticipating patients’ needs, including providing drinks, assisting with meal ordering, encouraging walking, helping with baths, and providing clean linens and gowns. The technician supports the bedside registered nurse by obtaining vital signs and reporting abnormalities or changes in patient behavior to the primary RN or charge nurse so that patients can receive timely assessment and treatment. Patient safety is supported through measures such as using gait belts and bed and chair alarms and staying within arm’s reach of patients while they move. The role calls for compassion, a caring bedside manner, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. It requires knowledge of age- and developmentally appropriate care, patient-care procedures and standards, infection control, and the procedures, equipment, software, and standards relevant to activities performed by non-licensed patient-care roles. The position also requires communication and interpersonal skills, sound judgment, organization, attention to detail, and the ability to manage a demanding workload amid interruptions, noise, and stress. This is a full-time night position at Ball Memorial. IU Health describes opportunities for professional development and tuition reimbursement, along with competitive pay and benefits for part-time and full-time positions.

Requirements

Current Basic Life Support certification through the AHA, or attainment of certification upon completion of the IU Health PCA education program.
Other advanced life support certifications may be required based on unit or department specialty and patient-care policies.
Knowledge of care appropriate to the age and developmental level of patients served.
Up-to-date knowledge of procedures and standards related to patient-care activities.
Interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to maintain mental awareness and withstand a high level of tension and stress.
Ability to maintain concentration amid frequent interruptions and variable noise levels.
Ability to exercise judgment and initiative in resolving problems.
Ability to set priorities and manage a high workload within limited time.
Knowledge of procedures, equipment, software, and standards related to patient-care activities performed by non-licensed roles such as PCA, PCR, or PCI.
Knowledge of infection-control principles and of personal hygiene and aseptic techniques to prevent infection.
Ability to perform physically demanding, repetitive movements.
Ability to read and perform basic math.
Ability to organize tasks and attend to details.

Responsibilities

Anticipate and meet patients’ bedside needs, including providing drinks and helping with meal ordering.
Encourage patients to walk and assist them with baths.
Provide patients with clean linens and gowns.
Obtain vital signs to support the bedside registered nurse.
Report abnormalities or changes in patient behavior to the primary RN or charge nurse.
Use safety measures such as gait belts and bed and chair alarms, and stay within arm’s reach of patients when they are moving.
Follow patient-care procedures, standards, infection-control principles, and aseptic techniques.