Patient Care Technician Adult Trauma Surgical Unit FT Night - Methodist

Indiana University Health System•Indianapolis, IN

21h

About The Position

This full-time night position is for a Patient Care Technician (also known as a Patient Care Assistant or PCA) on the Adult Trauma Surgical Unit at Methodist. As a bedside caregiver, the technician provides a positive patient experience by anticipating patient needs, providing drinks, assisting with meal ordering, encouraging walking, helping with baths, and providing clean linens and gowns. The role also provides clinical assistance to bedside registered nurses by obtaining vital signs and reporting abnormalities or changes in patient behavior to the primary RN or charge nurse to support timely 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 while they move. The role requires compassion, a caring bedside manner, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. It requires current Basic Life Support certification through the AHA or completion of the IU Health PCA education program, with other advanced life support certifications potentially required by the unit or department specialty. The technician must understand age- and developmentally appropriate care, patient-care procedures and standards, infection control, and the procedures, equipment, and software relevant to tasks performed by non-licensed patient-care roles.

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 concentrate amid frequent interruptions and variable noise levels.
Ability to exercise judgment and initiative in resolving problems.
Ability to set priorities and manage a high workload within limited time.
Knowledge of procedures, equipment, software, and standards related to patient-care activities performed by non-licensed roles such as PCA/PCR/PCI.
Knowledge of infection-control principles and personal hygiene and aseptic techniques to help prevent infection of patients, self, and others.
Ability to perform physically demanding, repetitive movements.
Ability to read and perform basic math.
Ability to organize tasks and attend to details.
Compassion, a caring bedside manner, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Anticipate patients’ needs and provide bedside assistance, including drinks, meal ordering, walking, bathing, and 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 and bed and chair alarms, and stay within arm’s reach of patients when they are moving.
Perform patient-care activities in accordance with applicable procedures, standards, and infection-control principles.