Patient Care Technician - Cardiac Acute Care Days - 12hrs/wk

University of Michigan Health-West•Wyoming, MI

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 supports the Cardiac Acute Care unit on the day shift, with a 0.3 FTE status and a schedule of 12 hours per week. The PCT assists with activities of daily living, hygiene, comfort, nutrition, elimination, specimen collection, vital-sign and weight measurements, and other patient-care procedures. The technician uses equipment and supplies safely, follows infection-control practices, documents care as directed by the RN, and communicates observations and care updates to the RN. Additional duties may include tasks assigned by the RN in charge, maintaining knowledge of department procedures, pursuing self-directed learning and continuing education, and participating in committees, task forces, and 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.
Ability to successfully complete unit-specific core competencies as defined in the orientation checklist.

Nice To Haves

For applicants enrolled in a health science program, completion of a nursing fundamentals course and/or one clinical rotation is preferred.
Basic understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and patient confidentiality is preferred.
Experience in an acute care or extended care facility is preferred.
Equivalent health-science enrollment may include nursing school, pre-PA school, medical school, or a closely related program.
Equivalent experience may include Medical Assistant, Paramedic, Medical First Responder, EMT, Nurse Tech, Resident Aid/Assistant, or LPN.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with activities of daily living and comfort, including making beds, turning and positioning, ambulating, dangling, transferring, and performing passive or assisting with 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 water; feeding patients; and measuring and recording dietary intake.
Assist patients with elimination needs, record accurate intake and output, and empty 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 listed patient-care supports and devices.
Help control infection by using aseptic technique and standard precautions, following special isolation precautions, handling clean and soiled linen, replacing full sharps containers, and cleaning equipment between patients and before return to Central Processing Department.
Document care 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 duties as assigned, including tasks that support department efficiency, maintaining knowledge of department processes and procedures, pursuing self-directed learning and continuing education, and participating in committees, task forces, and work groups as determined by management.