Patient Care Technician - Float Pool

UPMC Hamot is Seeking Nursing Students to Join the Float Pool as Casual Patient Care Technicians!

The Float Pool provides a unique opportunity to expand your healthcare experience across multiple areas while enjoying a 10% shift differential in addition to your base pay. The schedule is flexible, requiring 24 hours in a 6-week period. Rotating shifts, holidays, and weekends are required. Title and starting pay rate of this position may vary based on years of experience.

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) provides routine patient care and supports departmental services in alignment with established policies and procedures. Under the direction of a nurse or physician, the PCT helps ensure the highest quality of patient care. This role includes performing all UPMC core nursing assistant responsibilities—such as activities of daily living (ADLs), routine clinical tasks, safety practices, and equipment use—as well as advanced skills as required by departmental operational needs.

Core Responsibilities

Clinical Care & Daily Tasks

• Perform ADLs, including bathing, feeding, toileting, ambulating, transporting, turning, and repositioning patients.
• Conduct point-of-care testing (e.g., blood glucose), measure weights, collect vital signs, and track intake and output.
• Apply and reapply telemetry monitors.
• Support HAC and PSI prevention using TEDS/SCDs.
• Perform simple dressings, apply and remove restraints, complete bladder scans, and collect all specimen types.
• Complete "Ticket to Ride" documentation for patient transport.
• Achieve and maintain competency in all required skills.

Communication & Team Contribution

• Communicate effectively with all members of the healthcare team.
• Establish respectful, professional relationships with staff, patients, and families.
• Respond to unit needs, including answering call lights/phones, passing meal trays, and transporting patients.
• Report equipment malfunctions promptly to the appropriate department.
• Contribute to department initiatives, quality projects, and workflow improvements.

Professional Development

• Receive and respond constructively to feedback.
• Identify learning needs and communicate them to leadership.
• Seek assistance in prioritizing tasks as needed.
• Participate in self-review and ongoing skill development.

Patient Instruction & Support

• Provide patient and family instruction under RN direction.
• Assist with physical, respiratory, and cardiopulmonary therapies.
• Provide updates to the RN and report changes in patient status promptly.
• Apply, monitor, and remove restraints according to policy.

Safety, Compliance & Documentation

• Adhere to all hospital policies, procedures, and standard precautions.
• Maintain a safe work environment for patients and staff.
• Document care according to established procedures.
• Complete clerical tasks as needed.
• Perform duties in alignment with system-wide competencies and behaviors.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Advanced Skills (as required by department needs)

The PCT will maintain competency in at least one of the following advanced skills:

• Phlebotomy/venipuncture
• Peripheral IV removal
• Indwelling Foley catheter removal
• Basic arrhythmia recognition
• 12-lead EKG
• NG tube clamping and removal

• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Enrollment in a Nursing Program , with one of the following:

• a) 1 year of general healthcare experience
• b) 6 months experience as a UPMC Nursing Assistant/CNA
• c) Completion of at least one nursing clinical rotation

• Successful completion of the UPMC Patient Care Technician class upon hire
• Successful completion of basic information system training
• Microcomputer experience preferred
• Effective verbal and written communication skills required
• Access to medications is limited strictly to distributing the medication to the nurse

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances

• Basic Life Support (BLS) or CPR

• Must meet AHA standards including both didactic and skills demonstration
• Must be completed within 30 days of hire

• ACLS preferred

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran