Patient Care Technician Adult Orthopedic Surgical Unit FT Night - Methodist

Indiana University Health System•Indianapolis, IN

22h

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (also known as a Patient Care Assistant or PCA) is a bedside caregiver on an adult orthopedic surgical unit. The role provides 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 PCA provides clinical assistance to bedside registered nurses by obtaining vital signs and promptly reporting abnormalities or changes in patient behavior to the primary RN or charge nurse. 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. This is a full-time night position. The role 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 position requires knowledge of care appropriate to patients’ ages and developmental levels, patient care procedures and standards, infection control, and the procedures, equipment, software, and standards applicable to the patient care activities performed by non-licensed staff.

Requirements

Current Basic Life Support certification through the AHA, or attainment 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 and varied interruptions and variable noise levels.
Ability to exercise judgment and initiative in resolving problems encountered.
Ability to set priorities and manage a high workload within limited completion 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 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.

Responsibilities

Anticipate patients’ needs and provide bedside care, including drinks, meal-ordering assistance, encouragement to walk, bathing assistance, 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 remain within arm’s reach of patients when they are moving.
Perform patient care activities in accordance with applicable procedures, standards, infection-control principles, and aseptic techniques.