Patient Care Assistant

Personal Care Assistant

Provides compassionate personal care and support services under the supervision of a registered nurse that assists the patient in the achievement of physical and emotional comfort of healing.

Responsibilities

1. Provides all personal care services in accordance with the plan of treatment assigned by the registered nurse to include but not limited to:

• Measure and record intake and output
• Measure and record vital signs, O2 saturation, weight, height
• Positioning patients: lifting and turning patients
• Applying or utilizing special equipment
• Assisting in the use of bedpan, urinal, commode
• Ambulating the patient or assisting in the ambulation of the patient
• Per-operative and post-operative care
• Application/removal of anti-embolism stocking and SCD devices
• Removal of foley catheters
• Perineal care
• Non-medicated enemas
• Application of heat and cold
• Care of the incontinent patient
• Skin care to the immobilized patient
• Emptying colostomy bags
• Performing fingerstick blood sugars
• Set up of oxygen per nasal cannula at 2L/min
• Feeding patients, assisting with meal set up
• Collecting, labeling, transporting of lab specimens

2. Accurately documents care provided according to policies and procedures

3. Consistently performs basic care requirements such as rounding, use of AIDET, applying the "4 Ps" (Pain, position, potty, and proximity of items): prompt response to patient needs: performance of hand hygiene: use of two patient identifiers, etc.

4. Participates in economical utilization of supplies and ensures that equipment and nursing units are maintained in a clean/safe manner

5. Applies safety principles when performing care such as ambulation of patients, transferring patients, assisting with normal range of motion and positioning.

6. Assists in Performance Improvement (PI) activities by serving on PI teams when warranted, assisting with PT measures and supporting and implementing changes necessary for improvement.

7. Maintains well organized, well supplied, clean nursing unit

8. Maintains statistics/logs as required by the unit Manager/director

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Approved previous experience in giving patient care of completion of in-service education classes required. Candidates with patient care experience, those currently enrolled in a nursing program or those with prior customer service experience are preferred. Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

Physical presence in site is essential. Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected within normal range. Able to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation. Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking. Ability to lift or carry 50 pounds with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Is able to push stretcher/wheelchair with average adult patient. Is able to do frequent stooping and on occasion crouching, crawling or kneeling. Ability to reach reasonable distances in any direction. Ability to run in emergency situations. Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner. Must have ability to feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips.

Environmental

Includes exposure to body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazard materials and/or cleaning solutions. Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment.