Patient Care Technician - Emergency Room - Per Diem Day

Hackensack Meridian Health•Edison, NJ

22h

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician provides age-appropriate patient care in the Emergency Room, addressing patients’ physical, psychosocial, educational, and safety needs. The role supports safe patient outcomes through sound judgment, timely communication with patients and the healthcare team, and participation in interdisciplinary care planning from admission through discharge. Technicians also contribute to patient satisfaction and department performance-improvement activities. The position includes obtaining and documenting vital signs, oxygen saturation, glucose readings, weights, and intake and output; collecting, labeling, and transporting blood and other specimens; performing venipuncture and EKGs as directed; assisting with examinations, procedures, hygiene, meals, dressing, comfort, and patient transport; and helping maintain clean, stocked, safe patient rooms and functioning emergency equipment. The technician responds promptly to call lights and reports changes in patient condition to the RN. Care is adapted to patients’ ages, cultures, languages, and communication or accessibility needs. Other duties and projects may be assigned.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Completion of a Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, or Patient Care Technician program; a Fundamentals of Nursing program from an accredited nursing school; or the HMH PCT Apprenticeship Program; alternatively, equivalent medical background experience such as EMT, Home Health Aide, CMA, MA, PCT, or Nursing Assistant.
Ability to learn quickly and adapt to changing patient needs.
Accountability for improving the lives of patients and caregivers, strong teamwork, dedication to ongoing education, and commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-focused care and service.
AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP certification within 60 days of hire.
Candidates who have not completed a listed program but meet other requirements may be considered for the HMH PCT Apprentice Program and, if selected, hired as a PCT Apprentice before transfer to the Patient Care Technician role upon successful program completion.
Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant, or Patient Care Technician who has successfully completed a PCT program that includes phlebotomy, EKG, and nursing assistant coursework in both theoretical and clinical settings.

Nice To Haves

Experience or certification in phlebotomy and checking EKGs, vital signs, and blood sugar.
At least one year of PCT or CNA experience in a hospital setting; candidates eligible for the HMH PCT Apprentice Program are also considered.

Responsibilities

Provide patient care appropriate to patients’ physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and age-related needs.
Support safe patient outcomes through appropriate practice, judgment, and critical actions.
Communicate with patients, nursing colleagues, and other healthcare team members about patient status and care provided.
Take initiative to improve job performance and identify opportunities to contribute beyond assigned expectations.
Participate in interdisciplinary care planning and support safe transitions from admission through discharge.
Participate in unit and department performance-improvement activities.
Welcome patients and verify identification bracelets.
Prepare patients for assessment, admission, physical examinations, and procedures.
Recognize opportunities to improve patient satisfaction.
Obtain, document, and report clinical data, including temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation; promptly notify the RN of abnormal results.
Collect intravenous or capillary blood using appropriate aseptic techniques, and label and process specimens correctly and promptly.
Perform venipuncture for laboratory tests.
Collect, label, and transport specimens to the appropriate area at the appropriate time, ensuring labels include the patient’s name and room number.
Perform EKGs as directed.
Ensure necessary equipment is present, functional, and clean; check and maintain code carts, oxygen, and other emergency medical equipment as directed.
Apply bandages, slings, compression boots, and hypothermia blankets according to standards and as directed by the RN.
Assist with patient transport to departments or units.
Assist with meal preparation and feeding as needed.
Check inventory and restock assigned areas as directed.
Prepare room environments for admissions.
Provide hygiene and comfort care, including bathing, toileting, oral hygiene, incontinence care, and bed making.
Assist patients with dressing and undressing, manage belongings using labeled bags and completed property checklists, and monitor return of clothing to family.
Perform and document glucose finger sticks and collect other specimens as directed.
Provide post-mortem care.
Obtain and document patient weights and observe and document intake and output.
Maintain a safe patient environment, respond promptly to call lights, and immediately communicate patient condition changes to the RN.
Identify the needs of the patient population and adapt care and communication to factors including age, culture, language, hearing or visual impairment, developmental level, education, and literacy.
Perform other assigned duties or projects and adhere to HMH organizational competencies and standards of behavior.