Patient Care Technician Adult Critical Care Unit PRN Days - University

Indiana University Health System•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 Critical Care Unit. This is a PRN days position. As a bedside caregiver, the technician helps provide a positive patient experience by anticipating patients’ needs, including providing drinks, assisting with meal ordering, encouraging walking, assisting with baths, and providing clean linens and gowns. The role requires compassion, a caring bedside manner, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. The technician provides clinical assistance to the bedside registered nurse by obtaining vital signs and reporting abnormalities or changes in a patient’s behavior to the primary RN or charge nurse to support prompt treatment. Patient safety is maintained through measures such as using gait belts and bed and chair alarms, and staying within arm’s reach of patients when they move around. The position requires 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. The role also requires knowledge of age- and developmentally appropriate care, patient-care procedures and standards, infection control, personal hygiene and aseptic techniques, and the equipment and software used in the non-licensed role.

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 according to 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.
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 in a non-licensed role such as PCA/PCR/PCI.
Knowledge of infection-control principles.
Ability to perform physically demanding and repetitive movements.
Ability to read and perform basic math.
Ability to organize tasks and attend to details.
Knowledge of good personal hygiene and aseptic techniques to prevent infection.

Responsibilities

Anticipate patients’ needs, including providing drinks and assisting with meal ordering.
Encourage patients to walk and assist with baths.
Provide patients with clean linens and gowns.
Obtain vital signs and report abnormalities or changes in patient behavior to the primary RN or charge nurse.
Use safety measures such as gait belts, bed and chair alarms, and staying within arm’s reach of patients when they move around.
Apply infection-control principles and good personal hygiene and aseptic techniques to prevent infection of patients, self, and others.