Patient Care Technician - ED (Hanover)

UPMC•Hanover, PA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician provides patient care in the Emergency Department, including assistance with procedures and activities of daily living, support for physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies, and feedback to the RN about patient care and changes in patient status. The role performs UPMC nursing core nursing assistant responsibilities and department-identified tasks, while supporting patient safety, effective communication, documentation, and unit operations. The technician assists patients and families under RN direction and may apply, monitor, and remove restraints in accordance with physician or hospital protocol. The position includes routine competency in activities of daily living; blood glucose and other point-of-care testing; weights, vital signs, intake and output, telemetry monitor application or reapplication, specimen collection, simple dressings, bladder scans, restraint placement and removal, and intra-hospital patient transport. Access to medications is limited to distributing medication to the nurse. Based on department operational need, the technician will achieve and maintain competency in and/or perform at least one advanced skill, such as phlebotomy or venipuncture, peripheral IV removal, indwelling Foley catheter removal, basic arrhythmia, 12-lead EKG, or NG tube clamping and removal. The role also involves reporting equipment malfunctions, carrying out unit activities, completing assigned clerical work, and participating in departmental projects and quality initiatives.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet one of the following experience or training pathways: one year of general healthcare experience; six months of experience as a UPMC Nursing Assistant/CNA with PCT competency achieved within 120 days of hire, transfer, or promotion for those with less than one year of experience; enrollment in a PT, OT, or PA program or related healthcare training program with at least one completed clinical rotation; or a completed bachelor's degree in a health sciences field.
Successful completion of the UPMC patient care technician class.
Successful completion of eRecord training.
CPR based on AHA standards, including didactic and skills demonstration components, within 30 days of hire.
Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting, with renewal.
Act 33 clearance, with renewal.
Act 34 clearance, with renewal.
Act 73 FBI Clearance, with renewal.
Demonstrated understanding of cultural diversity, horizontal violence, and impairment in the health professions.

Nice To Haves

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic certification, or current enrollment in an EMT or Paramedic program.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).

Responsibilities

Provide patient care, assist with procedures and activities of daily living, and assist with physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies.
Provide feedback to the RN about patient care and report changes in patient status.
Perform UPMC nursing core nursing assistant responsibilities, including blood glucose testing, weights, vital signs, intake and output, specimen collection, and Foley care.
Perform required or assigned patient-care tasks, including point-of-care testing, telemetry monitor application or reapplication, simple dressings, restraint placement and removal, bladder scans, and intra-hospital patient transportation.
Achieve and maintain competency in and/or perform at least one advanced skill based on department operational need, such as phlebotomy or venipuncture, peripheral IV removal, indwelling Foley catheter removal, basic arrhythmia, 12-lead EKG, or NG tube clamping and removal.
Report equipment malfunctions to the appropriate department and communicate effectively with other departments and members of the healthcare team.
Respond to call lights and telephones, pass meal trays, and transport patients as part of universal unit activities.
Provide instruction to patients and families under the direction of the RN; apply, monitor, and remove restraints when permitted by physician or hospital protocol.
Follow patient-care and hospital-information policies and procedures, including safety policies and standard precautions; support safety for patients and self.
Document in the medical record according to established procedures and complete department clerical functions as needed.
Perform assigned work in a timely and productive manner and take responsibility for assignments and prioritization, seeking assistance as needed.
Identify and communicate learning needs to the unit director or direct leader, respond constructively to feedback, and take action to improve knowledge, skills, and performance.
Develop and maintain respectful, productive working relationships and demonstrate accountability, motivation, and commitment to patients and colleagues.
Support departmental changes, projects, and quality initiatives; demonstrate awareness of how behavior affects efficient department functioning.
Limit medication access to distributing medication to the nurse.