Patient Care Technician - Critical Care - F/T with Benefits Day

Hackensack Meridian Health•Edison, NJ

7d•$21

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician provides direct, age-appropriate patient care in a critical care service, supporting patients’ physical, psychosocial, educational, and safety needs. The role contributes to safe patient outcomes through sound judgment, timely communication with patients and the health care team, and participation in interdisciplinary care planning and performance improvement activities. The technician helps coordinate care from admission through discharge and supports safe transitions and continuity of care. Responsibilities include preparing patients for assessments and procedures; obtaining and documenting vital signs, weights, glucose readings, and intake and output; collecting and processing blood and other specimens; performing venipuncture and EKGs as directed; and promptly notifying the RN about abnormal findings or changes in condition. The technician also provides hygiene, comfort, feeding, transport, and post-mortem care; maintains equipment and room readiness; replenishes supplies; and helps ensure a safe, respectful environment responsive to each patient’s age, culture, language, and other needs. Candidates must have a high school diploma or GED and have completed an eligible nursing assistant, medical assistant, patient care technician, nursing fundamentals, or HMH PCT apprenticeship program, or have equivalent medical-background experience. Candidates who meet other requirements but have not completed one of the programs may be considered for the HMH PCT Apprentice Program. AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP certification is required within 60 days of entering the position. The listed minimum rate is $20.68 per hour. The role is full-time, day shift, and includes benefits.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent GED program.
Completion of a Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, or Patient Care Technician program; a Fundamentals of Nursing program from an accredited nursing school; the HMH PCT Apprenticeship Program; or equivalent medical-background experience such as EMT, Home Health Aide, CMA, MA, PCT, or Nursing Assistant.
Ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing patient needs.
Strong accountability and focus on improving the lives of patients and caregivers.
Strong teamwork, commitment to ongoing education, and dedication to high-quality, patient-focused care and service.
AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP certification within 60 days of entering the position.

Nice To Haves

Experience or certification in phlebotomy and experience checking EKGs, vital signs, and blood sugar.
At least one year of PCT or CNA experience in a hospital setting, or eligibility for the HMH PCT Apprentice Program.
CNA, CMA, or PCT certification following a program that includes phlebotomy, EKG, and nursing assistant coursework in both theoretical and clinical settings.

Responsibilities

Provide age-appropriate patient care based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related needs.
Support safe patient outcomes through appropriate practice, judgment, and critical actions.
Communicate with patients, nursing colleagues, and other health care team members about patient status and care provided.
Take initiative to improve job performance and identify opportunities to contribute beyond assigned expectations.
Participate in interdisciplinary care planning from admission through discharge to support safe transitions and continuity of care.
Participate in unit or department performance improvement activities.
Welcome patients and verify identification bracelets.
Prepare patients for assessment, admission, physical examinations, and procedures.
Recognize and respond to opportunities to improve patient satisfaction.
Obtain and document temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation; promptly report abnormal results to the RN.
Draw intravenous or capillary blood using aseptic collection techniques, label and process specimens correctly, and perform venipuncture for laboratory tests.
Collect, label, and transport specimens to the correct area at the appropriate time.
Perform EKGs as directed.
Ensure necessary equipment is present, functional, and clean; check and maintain code carts, oxygen, and other emergency equipment as directed.
Apply bandages, slings, compression boots, and hypothermia blankets according to standards and RN direction.
Assist with patient transport to departments or units.
Assist patients with meals or feeding as needed.
Check inventory and restock assigned areas as directed.
Prepare rooms for patient admission.
Provide hygiene and comfort care, including bathing, toileting, oral hygiene, incontinence care, and bed making.
Assist patients with dressing and undressing, handle belongings using the property checklist, and monitor return of clothing to family.
Perform and document glucose finger sticks and collect other specimens as directed.
Provide post-mortem care.
Obtain and document patient weights and monitor and document intake and output.
Promote a safe environment by promptly answering call lights and immediately communicating changes in patient condition to the RN.
Adapt care to the needs of the patient population, including age, culture, language, and hearing or visual impairment, and communicate at an appropriate developmental, educational, and literacy level.
Perform other assigned duties or projects and adhere to HMH organizational competencies and standards of behavior.