Patient Care Assistant (PCA)-Acute Care

Job Description

At UC Health, we're proud to have the best and brightest teams and clinicians collaborating toward our common purpose: to advance healing and reduce suffering.

As the region's adult academic health system, we strive for innovation and provide world-class care for not only our community, but patients from all over the world. Join our team and you'll be able to develop your skills, grow your career, build relationships with your peers and patients, and help us be a source of hope for our friends and neighbors.

UC Health is committed to providing an inclusive, equitable and diverse place of employment.

The Patient Care Assistant provides basic direct patient care as delegated by clinical professional personnel in accordance with delegation law and rules and current education. The PCA maintains an orderly, clean and safe environment for patients and visitors.

Responsibilities

PATIENT POPULATION - (CLINICAL ONLY):

• Engages in population appropriate communication. Has knowledge of growth and development milestones and tasks. Gives clear instructions to patients/family regarding treatment. Involves family/guardian in the assessment, initial treatment and continuing care of the patient. Identifies any physical limitations of the patient and deploys intervention when necessary. Recognizes and responds appropriately to patients/families with behavioral health problems. Interprets population related data and plans care appropriately. Identifies and responds appropriately to different needs resulting from, unique psychological needs or those associated with religious/cultural norms. Performs treatments, administers medication or operates equipment safely. Recognizes and responds to signs/symptoms of abuse or neglect.

Patient Care:

• Provides all patient care in a manner that is culturally-based and age-specific. Measures vital signs, records observation of skin integrity, intake & output, height & weight (bedside or w/c scale); reports all changes including mental status. Specimen collection: routine urine, clean catch urine, 24-hour urine, collection of self-expectorant sputum. Assists with activities of daily living (ADL's), skin care, tube and catheter care, turning, positioning, transfer and ambulating, range of motion (ROM), hot and cold compresses. Provides hygiene and comfort measures to include Bathing/showering, Peri-care. Changes linens as needed. Empties drainage bags and records outputs disposes of bodily fluids/waste. Utilizes patient care equipment such as manual/hydraulic/electronic lift/hoyer lift/bed scale. Removes and reapplies splints, braces, cervical collars, skin and skeletal traction, anti-embolic stockings. Performs post-mortem care. Distributes and removes food trays, sets up meal trays, positions and prepares patient for meals, assists and/or feeds patient, assists with menu selection, records calorie counts, provides snacks and fluids, monitors head of bed (HOB) with patients receiving tube feedings. Assists with turning, coughing and deep breathing; provides follow-up to incentive spirometry; reapplies O2 cannula/mask, provide portable oxygen tank for transport. May perform EKG's mobile care phlebotomy (MCP), and blood glucose.

Communication:

• Communicates patient observations to RN timely and appropriately. Orients patients and visitors to room and unit and updates the white boards appropriately. Records measurements and patient data. Documents treatments and procedures performed. Responds to and utilizes nurse call system. Reception and phone duties, as directed. Retrieves information from the computer.

Environment:

• Facilitates the maintenance of a clean, safe and organized environment for patients and coworkers. Removes equipment when no longer in use to appropriate area for cleaning. Re-orders and stocks materials as necessary. Reports maintenance issues.

Teamwork:

• Participates in patient admission, transfer and discharge. Demonstrates helpfulness, cooperation and respect for team members in pursuit of unprecedented patient care. Other duties as delegated.

Safety Measures:

• Ensures call lights are within reach of patients. Answers call lights promptly. Ensures placement of patient identification bands. Ensures that side rails and restraints are applied for patient safety and per policy. Uses proper body mechanics and universal precautions.

Qualifications

Minimum Required: High School Diploma or GED required. | STNA registry required for State Tested Nursing Assistant. STNA required for Daniel Drake Center. | Minimum Required: Minimum Required: 0-6 Months of experience required. Preferred: 1 - 2 Years equivalent experience.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Trained and maintains proficiency in AHA CPR and patient care skills. Completes unit-specific hospital safety education.
• One of the following criteria is required for this role:
  • State Tested Nursing Aide Training; Acute Medical Surgical Training or Hospital Specific Training.
  • May be a student from an accredited RN program that has successfully completed a medical surgical rotation or another acute care rotation.
  • If candidates do not have either of the initial two requirements, the candidate must successfully complete the UC Health competency training for PCA's and additional orientation before being permitted to care for patients.