Patient Care Technician Adult Surgical Step-down Unit PT Days - Methodist

IU Health•Indianapolis, IN

About The Position

IU Health is seeking a Patient Care Technician (also known as a Patient Care Assistant or PCA) for the Adult Surgical Step-down Unit at Methodist. This part-time day position provides bedside care and helps deliver a positive patient experience by anticipating patient needs, including providing drinks, assisting with meal ordering, encouraging walking, assisting with baths, and providing clean linens and gowns. The Patient Care Technician provides clinical assistance to the bedside RN by obtaining vital signs and reporting abnormalities or changes in a patient’s behavior to the primary RN or charge nurse to support rapid detection and treatment. The role helps keep patients safe by using measures such as gait belts, bed and chair alarms, and remaining within arm’s reach of patients when they are moving. The position requires compassion, a caring bedside manner, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. IU Health offers benefits for part-time and full-time positions, competitive pay, and development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement.

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 depending 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.
Proficiency in interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to maintain mental awareness and withstand a high level of tension and stress.
Ability to maintain concentration amid frequent and varied interruptions and variable noise levels.
Ability to exercise judgment and initiative in resolving problems encountered.
Ability to set priorities and manage a high workload within a limited time.
Knowledge of procedures, equipment, software, and standards related to patient-care activities performed by non-licensed roles such as PCA/PCR/PCI.
Knowledge of infection-control principles.
Ability to perform physically demanding, repetitive movements.
Ability to read and perform basic math.
Ability to organize tasks and attend to details.
Knowledge of personal hygiene and aseptic techniques to help prevent infection of patients, self, and others.

Responsibilities

Anticipate patients’ needs and provide drinks.
Assist patients with meal ordering, walking, and baths.
Provide patients with clean linens and gowns.
Obtain vital signs to assist the bedside RN.
Report abnormalities or changes in patient behavior to the primary RN or charge nurse.
Use patient safety measures, including gait belts and bed and chair alarms, and stay within arm’s reach of patients when they are moving.
Perform patient-care activities in accordance with applicable procedures, standards, infection-control principles, personal hygiene, and aseptic techniques.