Patient Care Technician - Carilion New River Valley Medical Center

Carilion Clinic•Christiansburg, VA

12d•$17 - $24•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician is a member of the health care team who provides basic nursing care and advanced technical skills for specified age groups according to established standards. The role supports patients’ cleanliness, safety, comfort, and activities of daily living, including measuring blood pressure, oxygen levels, and temperature, and assisting with bathing, meals, toileting, and ambulation. The position may include one-on-one care for patients on suicide or safety precautions and may require supporting multiple nursing units or Carilion facilities. The technician performs clerical and clinical support tasks, documents and reports patient observations to licensed staff, transports patients and materials, and helps coordinate admissions, transfers, discharges, and patient flow. Additional duties include supporting unit scheduling, maintaining supplies and equipment, assisting with customer service and registration, answering and routing calls, and participating in quality improvement, shared governance, and regulatory compliance activities. Depending on competencies, responsibilities may include phlebotomy, nonsterile wound dressings, saline lock replacement or removal, and colostomy bag changes. Work takes place in a patient care environment and may be fast-paced. The role requires prioritization and time management, maintaining confidentiality, and following established procedures. Required orientation classes take place during daytime hours, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the first two weeks. The position may involve exposure to infectious diseases, biohazardous or hazardous materials, regulated medical waste, and combative patients. Physical demands include lifting, prolonged standing, bending, pushing, pulling, reaching, and walking; prolonged sitting and computer use may also be necessary.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent education required.
Effective interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills required.
Must successfully complete orientation and competency validation for the position.
AHA BLS-HCP required within six months of hire.
Must be able to attend required daytime orientation classes Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for the first two weeks.
Must be able to perform duties in a fast-paced environment using prioritization and time-management skills.
Must demonstrate knowledge of life-span growth and development and the ability to recognize, document, and report patient status and provide age-appropriate care.
Must maintain patient, staff, and customer confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in direct patient care preferred.
Certified Nursing Assistant preferred; required if working in a critical access facility.

Responsibilities

Provide basic nursing care, including taking patients’ blood pressure, oxygen levels, and temperature and assisting with bathing, meals, toileting, ambulation, and other basic needs.
Perform advanced technical skills for specified age groups according to established standards and departmental policies and procedures.
Document and report patient observations to licensed staff; review medical records for outstanding orders and notify nurses of stat orders and medication changes.
Transport patients, supplies, specimens, and equipment within the facility.
Participate in one-on-one patient care, including sitting with patients on suicide precautions or confusion when assigned and appropriately competent.
Contribute to performance improvement activities and participate in unit quality surveillance, shared governance, and organizational councils or committees.
Exhibit competent knowledge of the EMR and assist with chart audits.
May lead unit huddles and participate in unit-based interdepartmental patient rounds.
Support department or unit staff scheduling, including covering lunch assignments.
Order, stock, organize, and maintain department or unit supplies and equipment.
Assist patients and visitors with way-finding, registration, and customer service; welcome visitors and model service excellence.
Answer and screen telephone and patient call system communications, route calls appropriately, and take accurate messages.
Clean unit-based equipment between patients, gather supplies, operate and maintain general office equipment, and follow procedures for timely equipment repairs.
Coordinate timely admission, transfer, and discharge processes and patient flow using department-specific software and the Intranet.
Monitor cleanliness of waiting and break rooms and conduct safety and environmental rounds with the multidisciplinary team.
Assist with regulatory compliance, including assigned checks of refrigerators, glucose meters, equipment-room storage, and code carts.
May perform phlebotomy, nonsterile wound care dressings, saline lock replacement or removal, and colostomy bag changes when competency requirements are met.
Maintain patient, staff, and customer confidentiality and suggest cost-containment initiatives within the work unit or department.