Patient Care Technician PCT - Ortho/Neuro Surgical - FT Days

Northeast Georgia Medical Center•Gainesville, GA

20h

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician supports care on Ortho/Neuro, a 26-bed nursing unit serving patients undergoing orthopedic and neurosurgical procedures, as well as orthopedic trauma and medical overflow patients during periods of high census. The unit includes rooms equipped for negative-pressure use and bariatric ceiling lifts. Patients and their families receive physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial support. The unit collaborates with the Joints in Motion program to provide comprehensive pre- and post-operative education for total-joint patients. The technician collects and reports basic patient data, assists with mobility, hygiene, activities of daily living and comfort, and carries out delegated care and procedures under nursing direction. The role also includes patient communication, documentation, safety and infection-prevention practices, room preparation, equipment and supply upkeep, patient transport, and responding to call lights. Employees are expected to meet unit competency requirements and maintain flexibility to support department staffing needs.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or high school transcript showing completion of at least the sophomore level of high school.
No previous experience is required.
Good interpersonal skills.
Physical ability to push and pull patients.
Ability to adapt to changing situations and work assignments.
Ability to accept direction from professional nursing staff and perform basic technical skills and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Basic bilingual language skills are preferred.
CCHT certification is required for the dialysis unit only.

Responsibilities

Obtain and report basic patient physiological data, including vital signs, weight, skin condition, and the color and character of urine and stool.
Use proper body mechanics and assist patients with positioning, mobility, hygiene, activities of daily living, and comfort according to procedure and direction.
Monitor oral intake and urine output and record amounts on appropriate forms.
Promptly identify and report changes in patients’ physical or mental status to assigned licensed staff.
Organize patient care, set appropriate priorities, and implement physician and nursing orders within prescribed time frames.
Perform therapeutic procedures within the job description and report patient responses to the supervising nurse.
Make frequent patient-room rounds, respond to call lights without prompting, and take appropriate action.
Orient patients and families to the unit and room; greet them pleasantly and explain care or procedures before beginning.
Record patient data accurately and promptly, and forward it to supervisory staff within established time frames.
Become proficient with required IT systems to support clinical staff and accurate documentation of care.
Answer and screen telephone calls courteously, refer calls appropriately, direct patient-care orders to licensed staff, and relay requests accurately.
Place reports such as X-ray reports in the patient chart or ensure they are sent to the appropriate unit.
Use universal precautions and appropriate personal protective equipment, follow hand-hygiene policy, and help maintain a safe patient environment.
Obtain and restock isolation supplies for patients on infection precautions; clean equipment, document cleaning, maintain equipment, and promptly report equipment issues to the charge nurse.
Distribute linen and ice, offer refreshments as permitted by the patient’s diet, and replace telemetry batteries as needed.
Transport patients as needed by the unit.
Clean and restock; change sharps containers when two-thirds full; replace glove boxes and disinfectant wipes; and prepare rooms for admissions, including stocking PPE and appropriate supplies and preparing the bed.
Participate in staff meetings with no more than two absences per year and read and respond to emails in a timely manner.
Remain flexible in scheduling to meet department staffing needs and complete unit-specific and annual competency assessments within required timelines.