Perioperative Technician/PCA

DCH Health Care Authority•Northport, AL

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Provides compassionate personal care and support services under the supervision of a registered nurse to help patients achieve physical and emotional comfort and healing. Also assists the RN with planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating nursing-station activities by performing clerical and receptionist duties and maintaining the area's physical environment. The role supports safe, smooth unit operations through patient-care duties, cardiac-monitoring responsibilities, order transcription, medical-record maintenance, communications, supply and equipment management, and upkeep of a clean, well-organized nursing unit. The position contributes to performance-improvement activities and must follow DCH standards, policies, procedures, and behavioral expectations. Physical presence onsite is essential, and the role requires stamina for a 12-hour shift.

Requirements

Approved previous experience providing patient care or completion of in-service education classes.
Approved previous experience in clerical functions or completion of in-service education.
High school education or equivalent.
Knowledge of or experience with computers and/or computer software.
Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training.
Ability to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
Ability to communicate clearly and accurately, receive delegation, work in groups, and perform both structured and unstructured work.
Ability to meet time pressures and timelines and perform work exactly and accurately.
Ability to use electronic mail, telephone, and texting.
Ability to communicate face to face with people of different personalities and deal with conflict and unpleasant or physically aggressive personalities.
Ability to tolerate possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, laboratory chemicals, hazardous materials, and cleaning solutions, and to wear common protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, masks, and gowns.
Ability to exert in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, 50 pounds frequently, and 20 pounds constantly to move objects.
Ability to tolerate prolonged standing and walking; reach reasonable distances in any direction; stand, walk, kneel, bend, sit, stoop, and lift; and run in an emergency.
Ability to move fingers in a coordinated manner and perceive temperature, texture, shape, and size with the fingertips.
Ability to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
Normal hearing and vision, or correction to within the normal range.
Stamina to work a 12-hour shift.
Physical presence onsite.

Nice To Haves

Patient-care experience.
Currently enrolled in a nursing program.
Prior customer-service experience.

Responsibilities

Provide personal care according to the RN-assigned plan of treatment, including measuring and recording intake and output, vital signs, oxygen saturation, weight, and height.
Position, lift, turn, transfer, and ambulate patients; assist with range of motion and use of special equipment.
Provide pre-operative and post-operative care, assist with bedpans, urinals, and commodes, and perform perineal care, non-sterile vaginal irrigations, sitz baths, non-medicated enemas, and care for incontinent or immobilized patients.
Apply and remove anti-embolism stockings and SCD devices; remove Foley catheters and saline locks; empty colostomy bags; apply heat and cold appliances; and perform blood sugar measurements.
Place patients on cardiac monitors, set up oxygen equipment, feed patients, and collect, label, and transport laboratory specimens.
Document care accurately in accordance with policies and procedures.
Perform basic care practices, including rounding, AIDET, the 4 Ps (Pain, Position, Potty, Proximity of items), prompt responses to patient needs, hand hygiene, and use of two patient identifiers.
Observe cardiac-monitoring status for all patients and ensure the monitor station is attended by qualified staff during breaks and lunch.
Validate assignment of cardiac alarms to caregivers at the beginning of each shift; notify staff of alarms, rhythm changes, and leads-off alarms.
Validate each patient's monitoring status at least every two hours, at shift change, and during handoffs for breaks and lunch; document validation on the appropriate form.
Perform a monitor count each shift to ensure all monitors are present, as appropriate for the area.
Transcribe orders accurately; assemble, maintain, and disassemble medical records; answer phones and intercoms; and communicate messages.
Use supplies economically and maintain equipment and nursing units in a clean and safe manner.
Apply safety principles when ambulating and transferring patients and assisting with range of motion and positioning.
Participate in performance-improvement activities, including serving on teams as warranted, assisting with measures, and supporting and implementing improvements.
Maintain a working knowledge of order entry and physician-order transcription processes.
Maintain a well-organized, well-supplied, clean nursing unit and maintain statistics and logs as required by the unit Manager or Director.
Meet performance, patient and employee satisfaction, and financial standards; comply with Employee Handbook requirements and DCH policies and procedures.
Follow DCH Behavioral Standards and perform essential functions in ways that ensure safety, identify unsafe practices, and reduce risks and hazards to patients, visitors, and employees.
Use electronic mail, time-and-attendance software, learning-management software, and the intranet.
Perform other duties as assigned.