Patient Support Assistant - Critical Care

OhioHealth • Pickerington, OH

9d

About The Position

The Patient Support Assistant assists Registered Nurses in providing direct care to multiple patients on an assigned nursing unit. The role supports activities of daily living, maintains a clean and safe care environment, helps patients and families have a respectful and compassionate experience, and may provide transport or run errands for patient care. The assistant may also help with telemetry monitoring and promptly communicate life-threatening arrhythmias to a licensed clinician.

Under Registered Nurse direction, the assistant performs delegable basic nursing tasks that do not require nursing judgment, assessment, complex observation, or critical decisions. Duties may include waived point-of-care tests, specimen collection, nasogastric tube care, 12-lead EKGs, simple clean non-sterile dressing changes, and collecting and documenting patient measurements and vital signs. The role uses portable technology for measurements, documentation, and point-of-care testing, and reports observations and concerns to the Registered Nurse.

The assistant also helps visitors and staff with information needs, may use wireless technology to coordinate care, and may serve as a technology super user or preceptor for new nursing assistants. The position maintains patient-care supplies and equipment and handles supplies, medications, and lab specimens transported to, from, or within the unit. As part of a High Reliability Organization, the role requires attention to safety, quality, and efficiency. Other duties may be assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Individuals aged 16–18 without a high school diploma or GED may be considered if they have an applicable work permit.
• Ability to perform assigned delegated tasks safely and according to directions.
• Competence using portable technology and handheld wireless devices for measurement and documentation.

Responsibilities

• Assist patients with activities of daily living, including bathing, grooming, eating, and walking.
• Maintain cleanliness and safety in patient rooms, the unit, and equipment.
• Assist patients, visitors, and nursing personnel on the assigned unit, and help other departments with patient care as needed.
• Build respectful and compassionate relationships with patients and families to support a positive patient experience.
• Potentially serve as a patient safety champion and support adherence to safety guidelines.
• Potentially assist with telemetry cardiac monitoring, recognize life-threatening arrhythmias, and promptly communicate them to an available licensed clinician.
• Potentially transport patients for the assigned nursing unit and run patient-care errands.
• Perform delegable nursing tasks assigned by a Registered Nurse that do not require nursing judgment or assessment.
• Perform basic nursing care tasks as directed, including waived testing, specimen collection, nasogastric tube care, 12-lead EKGs, and simple clean non-sterile dressing changes.
• Collect and document patient data, including height, weight, vital signs, intake, and output.
• Use portable and wireless technology for measurement, documentation, point-of-care testing, and care coordination.
• Report patient observations and concerns to the Registered Nurse.
• Assist hospital visitors and staff with information needs.
• Potentially serve as a nursing assistant information technology super user or preceptor for new nursing assistants.
• Maintain supplies and equipment needed for patient care operations.
• Secure and handle supplies, medications, and lab specimens transported from, into, or within the unit.
• Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor.
• Focus on safety, quality, and efficiency when performing job duties.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: High school or GED