Patient Support Assistant

OhioHealth•Pickerington, OH

About The Position

Assist a Registered Nurse in providing direct patient care to multiple patients on a designated nursing unit. The role supports activities of daily living, patient safety, unit cleanliness, basic nursing care, data collection and documentation, and the day-to-day operation of patient care services. The position may also involve patient transport, telemetry monitoring assistance, technology use, and support for visitors and staff. Associates are expected to perform other duties as requested by a supervisor; responsibilities may change and are not exhaustive.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED, subject to the stated exceptions for certain 16-, 17-, and 18-year-old applicants.
For 16- and 17-year-old applicants without a high school diploma or GED, a valid work permit is required.
Applicants who are 18 and enrolled in high school do not need a high school diploma, GED, or work permit.

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 in 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.
May champion patient safety by encouraging shared responsibility for safety guidelines among licensed and unlicensed caregivers.
May assist with telemetry cardiac monitoring, recognize life-threatening arrhythmias, and immediately notify an available licensed clinician.
May transport patients and run errands to pick up or deliver items for patient care.
Perform delegable nursing tasks assigned by a Registered Nurse that do not require nursing judgment, assessment, complex observations, or critical decisions and that can be performed safely according to exact directions.
Perform basic nursing care duties as directed by the RN, including waived testing, fingerstick glucose, urine dipstick, occult fecal testing, non-sterile specimen collection, nasogastric tube care, 12-lead EKGs, and simple clean, non-sterile dressing changes.
Collect and document data such as height, weight, vital signs, intake, and output.
Use handheld wireless devices and portable technology to measure and document intake and output, vital signs, and point-of-care testing.
Report patient observations and concerns to the Registered Nurse.
Assist hospital visitors and staff with information needs.
May use wireless devices and technology to coordinate healthcare activities such as scheduling, flowchart documentation, and nutrition service ordering.
May serve as a super user for nursing assistant information technology or as a preceptor for new nursing assistants.
Maintain supplies and equipment needed for patient care operations.
Secure and handle appropriate supplies, medications, and laboratory specimens transported from, into, and within the unit.
Perform other duties as requested by the supervisor.
Focus on safety, quality, and efficiency while performing job duties.