Patient Care Technician - Progressive Care Unit Nights - Resource

University of Michigan Health-West•Wyoming, MI

About The Position

Under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN), the Patient Care Technician (PCT) provides basic nursing care to patients and performs related tasks necessary to support the unit. The position is in the Progressive Care Unit and is listed for nights as a resource role. The PCT supports patient activity, comfort, hygiene, procedures, nutrition, elimination, specimen collection, vital-sign and weight measurement, and safe equipment use. The role also includes infection-control practices, documenting care as directed by the RN, and communicating observations and care updates to the RN while maintaining patient confidentiality. Other assigned duties may support department efficiency and include maintaining knowledge of department processes, pursuing learning and continuing-education opportunities, and participating in committees, task forces, and work groups as determined by management.

Requirements

Minimum high school diploma or GED.
Must meet at least one of the following: current Certified Nurse Aide (CENA) certification; current enrollment and continued progression in a health science program; or equivalent experience.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) provider certification.
Ability to successfully complete unit-specific core competencies as defined in the orientation checklist.

Nice To Haves

For health science program enrollment, completion of a nursing fundamentals course and/or one clinical rotation is preferred.
Equivalent health science enrollment may include nursing school, pre-PA school, medical school, or a closely related health science program.
Equivalent experience may include Medical Assistant, Paramedic, Medical First Responder, EMT, Nurse Tech, Resident Aid/Assistant, or LPN experience.
Basic understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and patient confidentiality is preferred.
Experience in an acute care or extended care facility is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist patients with activities of daily living and comfort, including making occupied and unoccupied beds, turning and positioning patients, ambulating and dangling patients, transferring patients, and performing passive or assisting with active range-of-motion exercises.
Assist patients with hygiene activities.
Provide indwelling urinary catheter care, excluding insertion, removal, and irrigation; change non-sterile dressings; provide ileostomy and colostomy care; and assist with postmortem care.
Assist with nutrition by passing trays, snacks, and drinking water; feeding patients; and measuring and recording dietary-tray intake.
Assist patients with elimination needs, record accurate intake and output, and empty other drains as designated by the RN.
Collect and label sputum, urine, and stool specimens; test urine for sugar, acetone, blood, or pH; strain urine for kidney stones; and use a glucometer to test blood glucose levels.
Measure and record vital signs and weight, including oral and tympanic temperature, radial and apical pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate; use standing, chair, sling, and bed scales.
Use equipment and supplies safely and appropriately, including assisting with incentive spirometry, setting up oxygen flow meters and suction equipment, disposing of suction canisters, and applying or removing specified comfort and support devices.
Help control infection by using aseptic technique and standard precautions; following special isolation precautions; handling clean and soiled linen appropriately; replacing full sharps containers; and cleaning equipment between patients and before return to Central Processing Department (CPD).
Document care provided as directed by the RN.
Communicate using Vocera, unit paging, telephone, and pneumatic tube systems; answer patient call lights; report observations to the RN; keep the RN informed about care delivered; and maintain patient confidentiality.
Perform other assigned duties, including tasks delegated by the RN in charge to facilitate department efficiency.
Maintain current knowledge of department processes and patient-care procedures, pursue self-directed learning and continuing-education opportunities, and participate in committees, task forces, and work groups as determined by management.