Hospital - Patient Care Tech (PT-Nights)

UT Health San Antonio•San Antonio, TX

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) provides high-quality, patient-centered care by performing basic patient care services and supporting caring connections with patients and families. Under the supervision of a registered nurse, the PCT assists with care within the limits of validated skills, training, and competencies while maintaining a well-organized and safe patient care environment. The role requires adherence to hospital policies and procedures and State Board of Nursing rules for unlicensed personnel. Patient assignments may include adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. The PCT supports patient care and unit operations through patient monitoring, hygiene and mobility assistance, specimen collection, communication, documentation, and clerical work. The position may include serving as a sitter or fulfilling Unit Clerk duties when needed, as well as orienting new staff and students.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Ability to perform constant walking, standing, bending, turning, and stooping.
Ability to push and pull heavy objects, such as patient beds, and help lift and turn patients.
Good interpersonal skills and verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to coordinate information and patient care through contact with physicians, residents, fellows, allied health personnel, and other medical and non-medical office personnel.
Telephone skills for contact with patients, referring physicians, pharmaceutical representatives outside the university, vendors, and third-party payees.
Ability to read, write, and perform mathematical calculations.

Responsibilities

Provide patient care under the supervision of a licensed nurse and perform only tasks for which training and competency have been validated.
Obtain and record initial and ongoing patient information, including admissions data, vital signs, height and weight, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, intake and output, calorie counts, blood glucose, and other information required by policy.
Recognize and immediately report values outside normal parameters to the nurse.
Perform patient rounds and immediately report changes in patients’ condition or behavior to the nurse.
Seek assistance and guidance as needed to ensure safe, high-quality, effective patient care.
Respond promptly to call lights.
Identify and monitor environmental, patient, and family needs in a respectful, positive, and timely manner.
Provide basic hygiene care and perform procedures and unit standards, including peri care, oral care, daily hygiene, linen changes, skin changes, and Foley care.
Assist with mobility through turning, positioning, dangling, and ambulating patients; assist with walkers, crutches, canes, and wheelchairs.
Transfer patients between units, departments, or entities, with attention to age-specific and safety needs.
Assist with discharge transports and use proper body mechanics.
Obtain or assist in collecting specimens for diagnostic tests in accordance with hospital policy; ensure labels are accurate and specimens are transferred promptly.
Address patient concerns through service recovery and immediately escalate concerns from patients, families, visitors, and staff through the chain of command.
Prepare, update, and distribute reports at shift change and when changes in a patient’s condition are noted.
Engage in evidence-based practices that enhance the patient experience.
Support administrative and clinical operations in the assigned practice environment.
Orient new staff and students to work areas.
Collaborate with nursing staff and hospital employees to foster an environment that supports retention of qualified personnel.
Use downtime to assist others or provide additional support to patients and families in the patient care environment.
Perform sitter duties as needed and complete required documentation.
Fulfill Unit Clerk duties when needed and participate in positive interactions and caring connections with patients and guests.
Perform clerical duties required for the nursing unit.
Maintain current compliance with annual education requirements, including modules, classes, and competencies.
Perform other duties as assigned.