Patient Care Technician - Cardiac Acute Care Nights - 24hrs/wk

umhealthwest•Wyoming, MI

20h

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 unit. The role is in Cardiac Acute Care, on nights, for 24 hours per week (0.6 FTE); there is no on-call requirement, and weekends are required. The PCT supports patients with daily activities, comfort, hygiene, nutrition, elimination, specimen collection, measurements, and designated care procedures. The role also involves safe equipment use, infection-control practices, documentation, and communication with patients and the care team. The PCT reports observations and care delivered to the RN and performs other assigned duties to support department efficiency, maintain knowledge of department procedures, pursue learning opportunities, and participate in committees or work groups as directed by management.

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 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 patients, ambulating and dangling patients, transferring patients, and assisting with 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, accurately record intake 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 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 devices.
Help control infection by using aseptic technique and 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 Central Processing Department (CPD).
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 about care delivered; and maintain patient confidentiality.
Perform other duties as assigned, including tasks delegated by the RN in charge to facilitate department efficiency.
Maintain current knowledge of department processes and procedures for patient care, pursue self-directed learning and continuing education, and participate in committees, task forces, and work groups as directed by management.