Patient Care Technician - Intensive Care Unit Nights - 36hrs/wk

umhealthwest•Wyoming, MI

17h

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 Intensive Care Unit. This position is scheduled for nights, 36 hours per week, with a 0.9 FTE. On-call work is not required, and weekend work is required. The PCT supports patients with daily activities, comfort, hygiene, nutrition, elimination, and designated procedures. The role also includes collecting specimens, measuring and recording vital signs and weight, using equipment safely, following infection-control precautions, documenting care as directed by the RN, and communicating effectively with patients and the care team. The PCT performs other assigned duties to support department efficiency and maintains 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 and 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. Considered programs include nursing school, pre-PA school, medical school, or a closely related health science program.
Basic understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and patient confidentiality.
Experience in an acute care or extended care facility.
Equivalent experience may include Medical Assistant, Paramedic, Medical First Responder, EMT, Nurse Tech, Resident Aid/Assistant, or LPN.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with activities of daily living and comfort, including making beds, turning and positioning, ambulating, dangling, transferring, and performing 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 and 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 input 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, and respiratory rate; use 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 ice bags, heat, ace bandages, arm slings, binders, supports, anti-embolism stockings, sequential compression devices, and restraints.
Help control infection by using aseptic technique and universal or 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 the 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 assigned 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.