Patient Care Technician - Med-Surg Days - Resource

umhealthwest•Wyoming, MI

19h

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 includes supporting patients’ daily activities, comfort, hygiene, nutrition, elimination, and care procedures; collecting specimens; measuring and recording vital signs and weight; and using equipment and supplies safely. The PCT also supports infection control, documents care as directed by the RN, and communicates with patients and staff using department systems. Other duties may be assigned to support department efficiency, maintain knowledge of processes and procedures, pursue learning and continuing education, and participate in committees or work groups as determined 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.
Successfully complete unit-specific core competencies as 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.
Equivalent health science program enrollment may include nursing school, pre-PA school, medical school, or a closely related health science program.
Equivalent experience may include Medical Assistant, Paramedic, Medical First Responder, EMT, Nurse Tech, Resident Aid/Assistant, or LPN experience.
Basic understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and patient confidentiality.
Experience in an acute care or extended care facility.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with activities of daily living and comfort, including making beds, turning and positioning patients, ambulating and dangling patients, transfers, and passive or assisted active 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 patients with elimination needs, record accurate input and output, and empty other drains as designated by the RN.
Collect and label sputum, urine, and stool specimens; 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 specified comfort and support devices.
Help control infection through aseptic technique, standard precautions, appropriate isolation care, linen handling and disposal, sharps-container replacement, and cleaning equipment between patients and before return to Central Processing Department.
Document care provided as directed by the RN.
Communicate effectively using Vocera, unit paging, telephone, and pneumatic tube systems; answer patient call lights; report observations to the RN; keep the RN informed of care delivered; and maintain patient confidentiality.
Perform other assigned duties to facilitate department efficiency, maintain knowledge of department processes and procedures, pursue self-directed learning and continuing education, and participate in committees, task forces, or work groups as determined by management.