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

University of Michigan Health-West • Wyoming, MI

3d

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 role works day shifts, with a 0.6 FTE status, 12 hours per week, no on-call requirement, and weekend work required.

The PCT assists with activities of daily living, comfort, hygiene, nutrition, elimination, specimen collection, vital signs, measurements, and designated procedures. The technician uses equipment and supplies safely, supports infection control, documents care as directed by the RN, and communicates with patients and the care team. Additional duties may include tasks assigned by the RN in charge to facilitate 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.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Meet 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.
• 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.
• Qualifying health science programs may include nursing school, pre-PA school, medical school, or a closely related 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 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 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 patients 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; 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 temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate, and 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 designated comfort and support items and devices.
• Help control the spread of infection by using aseptic technique and standard precautions, caring for patients under 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 of care delivered; and maintain patient confidentiality.
• Perform other assigned duties, including tasks supporting department efficiency, maintaining knowledge of department processes and procedures, pursuing learning and continuing education, and participating in management-designated committees, task forces, and work groups.

What This Job Offers

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