Patient Care Technician (Empowered Excellence Program) - Cardio Thoracic Unit - HBG

UPMC • Harrisburg, PA

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About The Position

The Patient Care Technician Empowered Excellence Program hires technicians directly into a designated nursing unit and also integrates them into a centralized PCT team. Participants build skills in relationships, clinical practice, quality, and safety while supporting broader organizational needs. This dual-placement model supports onboarding, develops clinical versatility, and provides familiarity with a home unit alongside additional experience and networking through centralized support. Opportunities span specialties including neurology, cardiac care, orthopedics, and medical-surgical units.

Patient Care Technicians provide routine patient care and departmental support in accordance with established policies and procedures. They work under the direction of nurses and/or physicians to help maintain high-quality patient care. Duties may include activities of daily living such as bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating, turning and repositioning patients; blood glucose testing; taking vital signs; simple dressings; EKGs; bladder scans; and collecting specimens. The role models safe patient-handling and evidence-based practices, partners with nursing leadership on safety, quality, and patient-experience initiatives, attends scheduled trainings and meetings, and maintains strong attendance and professionalism. Access to medications is limited to distributing medication to the nurse.

Nursing Support roles require rotating shifts, including daytime, evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday shifts. Schedules may combine 8-hour and 12-hour shifts. Hired candidates must complete a mandatory training course and attend for its entire duration.

Requirements

• Successful completion of the UPMC patient care technician class.
• Knowledge of body mechanics and transfer techniques.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two years of healthcare experience; or one year of experience plus at least one clinical rotation as part of a nursing or PT/OT/PA program or related health care training; or one year of experience and a bachelor's degree in a health sciences field.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
• CPR must meet AHA standards, including didactic and skills demonstration components, within 30 days of hire.
• Act 34 clearance.
• Annual completion of a professional contribution to be determined after hire.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide routine patient care and support departmental services according to established policies and procedures.
• Perform patient activities of daily living, including bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating, and turning and repositioning.
• Perform blood glucose testing, take vital signs, provide simple dressings, conduct EKGs and bladder scans, and collect specimens.
• Model safe patient-handling and evidence-based practices.
• Partner with nursing leadership on safety, quality, and patient-experience initiatives.
• Attend scheduled trainings and meetings, including the mandatory training course for its entire duration.
• Maintain strong attendance and professionalism.
• Distribute medication to the nurse; access to medications is otherwise limited.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED