Patient Care Partner - Acute Care - Per Diem

Job Title

Employee works with other members of the patient care team to deliver care to specific patient populations.

Job Description

The employee will maintain competency for population specific groups with consideration of physical, communication, safety, nutrition, and psychosocial needs.

Education, License, & Cert

High School Grad or Equivalent

Experience

No experience required.

Essential Functions

Participates in the delivery of patient care for population groups under the direction of an RN/LPN including but not limited to the following:

• Lifting, turning, and positioning patients utilizing Safe Patient Handling equipment (> 35 pounds), as appropriate.
• Observing confused and difficult patients
• AM/PM Hygiene care
• Toileting, shaving, washing, brushing hair, dental and mouth care
• Feeding
• Assisting with range of motion exercises
• Mobilizing patients - transfers and ambulation, utilizing Safe Patient Handling equipment (> 35 pounds), as appropriate and following the Mobility protocol
• Exercise protocols
• Discontinuing foley catheter
• Simple dressing changes
• Incentive spirometry supervision
• Surgical preps
• Postmortem care
• Administers cleansing enemas
• Removal of peripheral IV catheters
• Apply external catheter or incontinence device
• Sits with confused/disoriented patients or those requiring 1:1 observation for safety/suicide purposes, as assigned
• Performs and records accurately:
• Temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, heights and weights
• I & O
• Records bowel movements
• ADLs and activities
• Performs and records the following specimen collection:
• Obtains urine, stool, and sputum specimens for patients; instructs patients in proper specimen collection technique.
• Completes EKGs.
• Glucose monitoring in Non-Critical Care Areas
• Conducts bladder scanning
• Basic ostomy care
• Transports patients as needed
• Serves, sets up and retrieves trays
• Distributes water pitchers as appropriate
• Orders and distributes nourishment.
• Transports equipment
• Transports blood products to and from the patient care area.
• Participates in patient safety/patient satisfaction.
• Answers call bells
• Participates in patient rounding
• Reports any signs of abuse to the nursing staff
• Recognizes, troubleshoots and initiates corrective action needed on equipment.
• Maintains neat and tidy environment (empties laundry, delivers equipment, keeps patient rooms clean and safe).
• Inventories and assures disposition of patients' belongings when admitted, transferred, and/or discharged.
• Assures proper storage of equipment.
• Recognizes emergency situations and initiates plan of action
• Notifies RN/LPN of any changes seen in patient's condition
• Complies with policies and procedures of the hospital/nursing department.
• Supports the philosophy of the hospital and department of nursing.
• Maintains CPR certification and practice
• Demonstrates cost-effective patient care by demonstrating proper use and care of equipment, appropriate and prudent use of supplies, accurate charging of supplies; performing other division-specific tasks, and appropriate utilization of available resources.
• Participates in performance improvement activities to improve service and care. Demonstrates strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate using telephones, computer systems.
• Answers telephone promptly and politely, identifying self, title, and department. Receives and sends messages in an accurate and timely fashion.
• Communicates with the patients, family, and members of the healthcare team in a concise, tactful and considerate manner. Must represent the hospital in a professional courteous manner, while being sensitive to how others perceive both verbal and non-verbal communications.

Other Duties

• Assists in the orientation of new personnel and serves as a role model to other employees.
• Demonstrates willingness to accept non-routine work assignments as appropriate.
• Encouraged to participate in community activities
• Attends and participates in unit council (70% attendance).

The pay for this position ranges from $17.34-$24.32 per hour.