Patient Care Technician

HCA Healthcare•San Antonio, TX

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) is a member of the collaborative nursing team who supports Registered Nurses (RNs) in providing hands-on patient care and maintaining a safe, welcoming environment. The PCT assists with patients’ daily needs, including vital signs, mobility, and personal care, and helps RNs monitor patient conditions and carry out care plans. The role requires empathy, attention, and teamwork to help preserve patient comfort and dignity. Under RN supervision, the PCT performs delegated care activities within their training, competence, and skill. The position also supports patient admission, transfer, and discharge processes; communicates care activities and observed patient responses to the assigned RN; and follows facility safety, infection prevention, ethical conduct, and patient interaction practices. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent education.
No prior experience required.
Complete initial and ongoing training and competencies defined by the service line, facility, and department or unit, as applicable to the patient population served.
Obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) within 30 days of hire.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience as a PCT, nurse aide, or orderly in a healthcare setting.
Completion of a CNA training program and CNA certification with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services on hire.
Completion of an EMS training program and EMT certification with the Texas Department of State Health Services on hire.
MHS employee in an LVN job description as of December 1, 2011.

Responsibilities

Perform RN-delegated patient care activities within training, competence, and skill, such as obtaining vital signs, height and weight, intake and output, calorie counts, and performing simple non-sterile dressing changes.
Assist with safe patient handling, including turning and positioning, use of specialty beds and transfer devices, ambulation, oxygen use and transport, suction use, pre-operative skin preparation, and use of sequential compression devices.
Collect specimens, including blood for bedside glucose testing.
Help maintain a safe patient environment by addressing hazards that could contribute to falls, performing hand hygiene, following standard precautions, and using personal protective equipment according to transmission-based precautions.
Communicate timely and accurate information about delegated care and observed patient responses to the assigned RN, verbally or in writing and following hand-off communication guidelines.
Assist with collecting patient admission data and with patient transfer or discharge preparations as instructed.
Assist patients with activities of daily living, including bathing, shaving, oral care, toileting, grooming, changing linens, providing water, meal delivery, and feeding as directed.
Perform hourly rounding, use AIDET when interacting with patients, and respond to call lights promptly.
As permitted, retrieve medication from the pharmacy, medication storage room, or tube system and deliver it to licensed staff.
Assist with orientation of new personnel as directed.
Follow System and facility safety policies, use appropriate safety equipment and procedures, report unsafe conditions, and consult supervisors when safety procedures are unclear.
Adhere to the MHS Code of Conduct and demonstrate ethical behavior; report activity that may violate applicable laws, regulations, rules, or the Code of Conduct.
Complete other duties as assigned and support the mission, vision, and goals of the Methodist Healthcare System.

Benefits

Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, behavioral health, and telemedicine benefits.
Free counseling and referral services.
Paid time off and paid family leave.
Long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence.
401(k) plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay, based on years of service.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Flexible spending accounts.
Preferred banking partnerships, retirement readiness tools, rollover support, and financial wellbeing counseling.
Tuition assistance, student loan assistance, certification support, dependent scholarships, and a partnership with Galen College of Nursing.
Fertility and family-building benefits and adoption assistance.
Life insurance and supplemental health protection plans.
Auto and home insurance, legal counseling, identity theft protection, and consumer discounts.