Patient Care Associate, Nursing Student

The Patient Care Associate (PCA) is responsible for performing a variety of direct and non-direct patient care duties, including routine patient care duties as well as clerical, supply, and messenger responsibilities. The PCA performs other patient care related duties and unit duties as needed, and may function as a patient care observer to monitor for patient safety in situations where 1:1 observation is required.
Telemetry/Critical Care Unit Specific: Responsible for successfully completing arrhythmia course and maintaining competency in telemetry monitoring.
This position is part of the 1199SEIU Bargaining Unit at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
This position reports to the Nurse Manager and operates within established organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
Must be able to effectively interact appropriately to an individual's intellectual level and physical ability.
1Infants1Pediatric1Adolescent1Adult1Geriatric

Does this position require Patient Care?
Yes

Essential Functions
-Include, but are not limited to, perform and document point of care, perform and document vital signs, perform EKG's, perform skin, bathing and performing other sanitary needs of patients, transferring and assisting with ambulation of patients, feeding patients, etc.


-Assist RN's and physicians with other exams and treatments as required.


-Record I & O.


-Communicate with nursing staff in an effective and timely manner around issues related to patient care and patient condition.


-Complete documentation data on the patient's medical records as care is provided, condition changes and as clinical needs, supervisor indicates.


-Ensure that patient rooms are stocked, equipped, and cleaned appropriately, as needs indicate and as patient volumes change.


-Utilize equipment properly considering its' maintenance, safety and availability.


-Report equipment malfunctions and needs to Maintenance or Bio Med Engineering as appropriate.


-Participate in quality improvement processes and systems to assure targeted outcomes, exceptional service delivery and efficiency.


-Demonstrate cooperative, collaborative, participative behavior with peers in the performance of work, goals, quality improvement efforts and patient care delivery.


-Participate in the orientation of new personnel as requested.


-Assist in emergency situations as directed.


-Make trips to other hospital departments for patient and unit supplies (i.e. equipment, blood, storeroom, etc.) and deliver specimens, etc.


-Delivers meal trays to patients using safe tray passing techniques (verify with RN if NPO, patient going for a test, patient with swallowing issues, etc).


-Receive incoming communications and take appropriate action to relay information to the necessary person(s).


-Receive and direct Medical Staff, personnel, patients and visitors.


-Inform next shift Unit Secretary, Shift Charge Nurse, or Nurse Manager of problems needing attention.


-Notify Case Management of the need for consultation at the request of physician or nurse.


-Notify consulting physician, physician's office, or answering service of need for consultation as ordered by attending physician.


-Contact religious personnel on behalf of patient as directed by nursing staff, patient or patient's family.


-Operate paging system efficiently.


-Perform non-clinical clerical duties related to the admission, hospitalization, discharge, transfer, death and leave of absence of patients.


-File forms in individual patient's medical record.


-Copy medical records as ordered for patient transfer to another facility.


-Send patient's medical record to Medical Records after charting is completed, the chart is checked and patient is discharged.


-Prepare appropriate paperwork for patient needs: i.e. surgical packets / Universal Protocol / EMTALA / Medical Necessity form / Discharge/Admission.


-Ensure that appropriate stock items and equipment are available to the unit (this is in conjunction with the Unit Aide if that particular unit has a Unit Aide).


-Greet new patients with friendly professionalism and escort patient to room and notify appropriate nurse when needed.


-Greet and direct visitors to appropriate room and inform them of hospital regulations as appropriate.


-Issue correct information to patients and families.


-Respect the dignity and confidentiality of the patient and family.


-Function in role of Patient Care Observer as requested.


-Remain in constant attendance with assigned high risk patient until relieved by shift charge nurse.


-Maintain safety for patients with suicidal ideation.


-Immediately notify nursing staff of any unusual circumstances or obtain assistance with any restrained patient who needs attention or assistance.


-Immediately report any changes in patient's condition to the patient's nurse.


-May perform non-clinical tasks as directed by the patient's nurse.


-Maintain established hospital and departmental policies and procedures, objectives, confidentiality, quality improvement program, compliance, safety, infection control and environmental standards.


-Stay abreast of current trends in field of expertise.


-Maintain flexibility and remain responsive to unit and overall nursing department needs as they relate to patients and work assignments.


-Meet annual competency and retraining requirements.


-Attend meetings as required.


-Perform other functions/duties as requested.

Education
High School Diploma or Equivalent required

Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree?
No

Licenses and Credentials
Basic Life Support [BLS] - Generic - HR Only required

Experience
Six (6) months to one (1) year nursing assistant experience preferred One (1) to three (3) years secretarial experience preferred Health care experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Ability to perform routine patient care activities under the direction of licensed nursing personnel requiring technical or on the job training required.
- Nursing Assistant certification, Medical Assistant certification, or a nursing student who is actively enrolled into a nursing program with at least one clinical rotation completed required.
- Ability to multitask and handle stress crisis situations effectively required.
- Demonstrated knowledge of medical terminology required.
- Demonstrated typing skills and computer experience required.
- Demonstrated interpersonal, organizational, and oral and written communication skills required.

Physical Requirements

• Standing Frequently (34-66%)
• Walking Frequently (34-66%)
• Sitting Occasionally (3-33%)
• Lifting Frequently (34-66%) 35lbs+ (w/assisted device)
• Carrying Frequently (34-66%) 20lbs - 35lbs
• Pushing Occasionally (3-33%)
• Pulling Occasionally (3-33%)
• Climbing Rarely (Less than 2%)
• Balancing Frequently (34-66%)
• Stooping Occasionally (3-33%)
• Kneeling Occasionally (3-33%)
• Crouching Occasionally (3-33%)
• Crawling Rarely (Less than 2%)
• Reaching Frequently (34-66%)
• Gross Manipulation (Handling) Frequently (34-66%)
• Fine Manipulation (Fingering) Frequently (34-66%)
• Feeling Constantly (67-100%)
• Foot Use Rarely (Less than 2%)
• Vision - Far Constantly (67-100%)
• Vision - Near Constantly (67-100%)
• Talking Constantly (67-100%)
• Hearing Constantly (67-100%)

Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.