Patient Care Technician - Intermediate Care Unit (Harrisburg Hospital)

UPMC•Harrisburg, PA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician provides direct patient care in the Intermediate Care Unit under the direction of a registered nurse (RN). The role supports patients with activities of daily living, helps maintain a safe and organized care environment, and obtains and distributes supplies and equipment needed for patient care. The technician also assists with unit activities, documents care, communicates changes in patient status, and provides companionship or one-on-one supervision when required. The position performs nursing-assistant core responsibilities, including activities of daily living, blood glucose and other point-of-care testing, weights, vital signs, intake and output, specimen collection, Foley care, telemetry monitor application or reapplication, and restraint-related tasks as permitted by physician or hospital protocol. The technician supports patient safety and prevention of hospital-acquired conditions, responds to emergent situations within the scope of the role, and follows hospital policies and procedures. Title and starting pay rate may vary based on years of experience.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Successful completion of the UPMC nursing assistant training program.
Knowledge of body mechanics and transfer techniques.
CPR required based on AHA standards, including didactic instruction and a skills demonstration component, within 30 days of hire.
Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Act 34 clearance.

Nice To Haves

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct patient care as directed by the RN, including bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating, turning, and repositioning patients.
Maintain an environment conducive to patient safety and recovery by completing safety checks, keeping patient rooms and the department clean and organized, cleaning department-specific equipment, changing bed linens, emptying linen hampers, keeping hallways clear, and returning equipment.
Acquire and distribute supplies and equipment for patient care, including performing messenger functions, ordering and charging or crediting supplies, setting up patient care equipment within the scope of the role, and stocking patient rooms and unit supply areas.
Deliver patient nourishments, fill water pitchers, and distribute patient mail.
Perform nursing-assistant core responsibilities, including blood glucose and other point-of-care testing, weights, vital signs, intake and output, urine specimen collection, Foley care, and telemetry monitor application or reapplication.
Support prevention of hospital-acquired conditions and patient safety indicators; perform restraint placement, monitoring, and removal as permitted by physician or hospital protocol.
Provide feedback to the RN regarding patient care and report changes in patient status.
Demonstrate understanding of cultural diversity, horizontal violence, and impairment in the health professions, and support safety in the workplace for patients and self.
Report equipment malfunctions to the appropriate department.
Contribute to universal unit activities, including responding to call lights and telephones, passing meal trays, and transporting patients.
Identify and communicate learning needs to the unit director or direct leader, and request assistance with planning and prioritizing activities as needed.
Provide diversional activities to reduce or prevent restraint use.
Document in the medical record according to established procedures and complete departmental clerical functions as needed.
Comply with safety policies and procedures, including standard precautions and blood-borne pathogen exposure procedures.
Limit access to medications to distributing medication to the nurse.
Adhere to policies and practices concerning patient care and hospital-related information.
Respond to emergent situations within the scope of the nursing assistant role.
Provide companionship or one-on-one patient supervision as required.