Patient Care Technician FT Day -Adult Pulmonary Critical Care Unit - Methodist

IU Health•Indianapolis, IN

About The Position

IU Health is seeking a Patient Care Technician (also known as a Patient Care Assistant or PCA) for the Adult Pulmonary Critical Care Unit at Methodist. This full-time, day-shift bedside caregiver role provides a positive patient experience by anticipating patients’ needs, including providing drinks, assisting with meal ordering, encouraging walking, helping with baths, and providing clean linens and gowns. The PCA provides clinical assistance to bedside registered nurses by obtaining vital signs and reporting abnormalities or changes in patient behavior to the primary RN or charge nurse to support timely detection and treatment. The role promotes patient safety through measures such as using gait belts and bed and chair alarms, and staying within arm’s reach of patients while they move. The position requires compassion, a caring bedside manner, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. IU Health describes itself as Indiana’s most comprehensive health system, with 15 hospitals and nearly 40,000 team members. The organization offers team members opportunities for learning and development, including advanced clinical training, leadership development, promotion opportunities, and cross-training.

Requirements

Current Basic Life Support certification through the AHA, or attainment of certification upon completion of the IU Health PCA education program.
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 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.
Ability to perform physically demanding, repetitive movements.
Ability to read and perform basic math.
Ability to organize tasks and attend to details.
Knowledge of good personal hygiene and aseptic techniques to prevent infection of patients, oneself, and others.
Compassion, a caring bedside manner, and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Other advanced life support certifications may be required depending on unit or department specialty and patient-care policies.

Responsibilities

Anticipate and respond to patients’ needs, including providing drinks and helping with meal ordering.
Encourage patients to walk and assist with baths.
Provide patients with clean linens and gowns.
Obtain vital signs and provide clinical assistance to bedside registered nurses.
Report vital-sign 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 stay within arm’s reach of patients when they are moving.
Perform patient-care activities in accordance with relevant procedures, standards, and infection-control principles.