Patient Care Technician, WKO - ED (Hanover)

UPMC•Hanover, PA

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician provides patient care and supports nursing staff in the emergency department. The role includes assisting with procedures and activities of daily living, supporting physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies, and reporting patient-status changes to the RN. The technician performs UPMC nursing core nursing assistant responsibilities and department-identified clinical tasks, with advanced competencies determined by operational needs. The technician supports safe, respectful, and effective care by communicating with the health care team, following patient-care and safety policies, documenting in the medical record, and completing assigned work and clerical functions in a timely manner. The role also contributes to unit operations, including responding to call lights and telephones, passing meal trays, and transporting patients. Patient and family instruction is provided under the RN’s direction. Access to medications is limited to distributing medication to the nurse. This is a full-time, weekend-option position working nights at the WKO Emergency Department in Hanover.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet at least one of the following experience or education pathways: one year of general health care 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, PA, or related health care training program with at least one clinical rotation completed; or completion of a 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 a didactic and skills demonstration component, within 30 days of hire.
Required clearances and renewals: Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting, Act 33, Act 34, and Act 73 FBI Clearance.
Competency in UPMC nursing core assistant responsibilities, including activities of daily living, point-of-care testing (including blood glucose), weights, vital signs, intake and output, telemetry monitor application/reapplication, hospital-acquired condition and patient safety indicators, simple dressings, restraint placement and removal, bladder scanning, specimen collection, and intra-hospital patient transportation.

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

Assist with patient procedures and activities of daily living, including bathing, feeding, toileting, ambulating, turning, repositioning, and transporting patients.
Assist with physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies.
Report changes in patient status to the RN and provide feedback regarding patient care.
Perform UPMC nursing core nursing assistant responsibilities, including blood glucose testing, weights, vital signs, intake and output, specimen collection, Foley care, and other assigned patient-care tasks.
Perform department-identified skills, which may include phlebotomy, 12-lead EKG, simple dressings, Foley catheter removal, point-of-care testing, bladder scanning, straight catheterization, or IV catheter removal.
Apply, monitor, and remove patient restraints according to physician or hospital protocol.
Provide instruction to patients and families under the direction of the RN.
Report equipment malfunctions to the appropriate department and communicate effectively with other departments and health care team members.
Contribute to universal unit activities, including responding to call lights and telephones, passing meal trays, and transporting patients.
Receive feedback and direction constructively; identify and communicate learning needs; seek help with planning and prioritizing; and take steps to improve knowledge, skills, and performance.
Maintain professional, respectful, and productive working relationships and demonstrate accountability, enthusiasm, motivation, and commitment to patients and colleagues.
Support workplace safety, demonstrate understanding of cultural diversity, horizontal violence, and impairment in the health professions, and comply with safety policies and standard precautions.
Follow patient-care and hospital-information policies and procedures.
Support departmental changes, projects, and quality initiatives; take responsibility for assignments and contribute to efficient department functioning.
Document in the medical record according to established procedures, complete assigned work in a timely and productive manner, and perform clerical functions as needed.
Achieve and maintain competency in, or perform at least one advanced skill based on department operational need, such as phlebotomy/venipuncture, peripheral IV removal, indwelling Foley catheter removal, basic arrhythmia, 12-lead EKG, or NG tube clamping and removal.
Limit medication access to distributing medication to the nurse.