Patient Care Assistant

Job Summary

The patient care assistant assists in patient care delivery, clerical functions and provides unit support through a variety of functions.

Essential Responsibilities

• Upholds Kaiser Permanentes Policies and Procedures, Principles of Responsibilities and applicable state, federal and local laws. Provides basic nursing care needs to assigned patients and make visual observations reporting abnormalities in accordance with established nursing procedures and policies, documents patient observation and direct care information to patients medical records. Take assignments accurately. Works as a team member with assigned RN and other healthcare workers to provide care. Able to organize time and prioritize assignments. Visit each assigned patient at the beginning of the shift/assignment and report observations to R.N. Make rounds on assigned patients at least every two hours, observing and reporting changes to the R.N. Use the Multidisciplinary Plan of Care as a guide for individualized patient care and teaching as directed by the R.N. Identifies discharge barriers and communicates to R.N. Assist with or provide activities of daily living (ADLs) including baths, linen change of occupied and unoccupied bed, dressing, feeding, providing water, grooming and hygiene, AM and HS care, mouth/foley/peri-care. Collect simple specimens and record specimen collection. Reinforce pulmonary hygiene including use of incentive spirometer, sets up oxygen, and connects patient to pulse oximeter. Provide nourishments; monitor and set up NG feedings, G-tube feeding or J-tube feeding for the nurse to administer. Administers minor treatments and procedures such as, but not limited to, EKG test administration, non-medicated enemas (Harris flush, soap suds), non-sterile dressing changes; sitz baths, apply ostomy appliances to old, healed sites; perform oral suctioning; safely apply heat/cooling measures; perform surgical preps; complete pre-op checklist. Perform cast care; apply Bucks traction, CPM machine, sequential stocking. Perform blood glucose monitoring. Provide bed exercises, including range of motion and positioning, and assist patient in ambulating when necessary. For each patient documents care provided, including but not limited to: Oral intake, all output, vital signs, weights and measurements in a concise, accurate, legible and timely manner in the medical record. Transports patients for transfer, discharge or other needs as directed. Provide post-mortem care. Maintains prescribed standards of cleanliness and organization for assigned work areas replenishing stock supplies as necessary.
• Monitor patient care environment for cleanliness and safety. Maintain a clean, neat work area. Remove faulty, non-functioning equipment from service, label, and report to the appropriate personnel. Order supplied and equipment as needed. Enters equipment repair requests in EMSR. Comply with patient safety practices/policies. Comply with nursing department policies regarding patient rights, restraints, safety belts, posey jackets/belts and side rails. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of general hospital process and policies, e.g., Fire and Safety, Infection Control, No Smoking, Visitation. Uses aseptic technique in conjunction with Universal Precautions. Follows hazardous waste policies. Participates in providing appropriate emergency procedures as indicated. Respond to codes and other life-threatening situations as appropriate or directed. Demonstrate understanding of assigned role in external/internal disasters. Participate in emergency drills and mock codes. Establishes and maintains courteous, cooperative relations with the public, patients, and other personnel including telephone etiquette. Exhibits excellent customer relations to patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers; shows courtesy, compassion and respect; conforms to unit service standards established for the department and the hospital. Answers phones and patient call lights within two (2) minutes. Answers questions when able, refers all unanswered requests to appropriate nurse. Assists in orienting new personnel as directed. Utilizes house-wide computer to input pending and actual discharges (within 10 minutes of patient departure). Maintains patients chart accurately, neatly, and keeps data entry current. Participates in staff meetings, nursing committees and inservice programs, including annual re-certification. Attend mandatory training classes relating to techniques, procedures and/or current issues, as required. Participate in Quality Improvement/QC activities at the unit level. Assists in ordering and distribution of unit supplies and equipment. Promotes, ensures, and improves customer service to internal/external customers by demonstrating skills which are consistent with the organizations philosophy of providing extraordinary customer relations and quality service. Age Related Competencies: Skills assessments and validations are utilized to ensure that employees providing patient care to specific age groups (i.e. infants, adolescents, elderly, etc.) are proficient identifying the special needs and behaviors associated with a particular patient population.