Patient Care Technician PCT - General Medical - Full-Time Nights

Northeast Georgia Health System•Gainesville, GA

About The Position

A non-licensed staff member trained to perform a variety of nursing support and transport duties. The role includes clinical tasks on nursing units, cleaning and stocking patient rooms and other unit areas, and providing direct patient care within the scope of defined practice. The technician works under the direct supervision of the shift primary nurse and cares for adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. Clinical duties must follow population-specific guidelines and National Patient Safety Goals, as outlined in policies and procedures. Candidates without successful completion of the Foundations of Nursing course (RN students only), with less than six months of PCT experience within the past two years, or without current active CNA certification will be enrolled in NGHS’s in-house PCT Academy.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or high school transcript showing completion of at least the sophomore level of high school.
No previous experience is required.
Good interpersonal skills.
Physical ability to push and pull patients.
Ability to adapt to changing situations and work assignments.
Ability to accept direction from professional nursing staff and perform basic technical skills and procedures.
Candidates who have not successfully completed the Foundations of Nursing course (RN students only), have less than six months of PCT experience within the past two years, or do not hold current active CNA certification will be enrolled in the PCT Academy.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently and carry up to 20 pounds frequently.
Job requires reading, writing, reasoning, talking, and keyboarding.

Nice To Haves

Basic bilingual language skills.

Responsibilities

Obtain and report basic patient physiological data, including vital signs, weight, skin condition, and the color and character of urine and stool.
Use proper body mechanics and provide positioning, mobility, hygiene, activities of daily living, and comfort care according to procedures and direction.
Monitor oral intake and urine output and record amounts on appropriate forms.
Promptly identify and report changes in patients’ physical or mental status to assigned licensed staff.
Organize patient care, prioritize tasks, and implement physician and nursing orders within prescribed time frames.
Perform therapeutic procedures within the parameters of the job description and report patient responses to the supervising nurse.
Make frequent patient-room rounds, respond to call lights, and take appropriate action.
Orient patients and their families or significant others to the unit and room, and greet them pleasantly.
Explain procedures and care to patients before beginning.
Record patient data accurately and on time, and forward it to supervisory staff within established time frames.
Develop proficiency with required IT systems to support clinical staff and accurate documentation of patient care.
Answer telephone calls courteously, screen and refer calls appropriately, refer patient-care orders to licensed staff, and relay requests accurately to appropriate individuals.
Place reports, such as X-ray reports, in the patient chart or ensure they are sent to the appropriate unit.
Promote patient safety by following universal precautions and hand-hygiene policy, using personal protective equipment appropriately, maintaining a safe patient environment, restocking isolation supplies, cleaning equipment, and reporting equipment issues to the charge nurse.
Distribute linen and ice as needed and offer refreshments as permitted by patients’ diets.
Replace telemetry batteries as needed.
Perform patient transport functions as needed by the unit.
Clean and restock unit areas and patient rooms.
Change sharps containers in patient rooms when they are two-thirds full.
Replace glove boxes and disinfectant wipes in patient rooms.
Prepare rooms for new admissions, including stocking PPE, turning down the bed, and making appropriate supplies and equipment available.
Participate in staff meetings, with no more than two absences per year.
Read and respond to email in a timely manner.
Demonstrate scheduling flexibility to meet department staffing needs.
Complete unit-specific and annual competency assessments within required timelines.