Patient Care Associate

Patient Care Associate

Under the direction of a registered/licensed nurse (RN), the Patient Care Associate (PCA), as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team, assists in clinical support functions to promote a safe, compassionate patient care environment.

Responsibilities:

• Assists with meeting direct patient care needs
• Consistently foster a healing environment with respect and kindness, demonstrating respect for all individuals with sensitivity to cultural diversity.
• Contributes to the plan of care through ongoing communication with the RN
• Assists with patient data and specimen collection
• Assists with equipment preparation and set up
• Completes hourly patient care rounds, anticipating patient needs proactively
• Maintains patient and family privacy and confidentiality
• Responds to patient and family requests, including answering patient call lights promptly
• Seeks registered nurse assistance to meet patient/family needs when necessary.
• Communicates respectfully with all members of the interdisciplinary team
• Monitors patient and environment for safety concerns and immediately reports changes to RN/licensed nurse
• Maintains a safe and clean patient care environment

Follows Infection Prevention Practices:

• Demonstrate proper hand washing 100% of the time.
• Utilizes two patient identifiers for appropriate patient identification before all specimen collections
• Follows Safe Patient Handling principles to maintain safety for both patients and staff
• Documents aspects of care on approved forms or electronic medical record
• Participates as a member of the Interdisciplinary team to meet patient/family and unit/department needs
• Proactively assists others
• Performs delegated responsibilities and demonstrates a willingness to adapt to changing unit demands
• Provides care appropriate to the age group of patients on assigned unit(s) as described in the relevant unit profiles
• Completes annual required training
• Updates knowledge through periodic in-services
• Other duties as assigned
• Assists with activities of daily living (i.e., personal hygiene/grooming, bathing/showering, toileting, dressing, and functionality/mobility)
• Sets up food trays and assists patients with meals as indicated
• Performs preventative skincare
• Assists patients with positioning, turning, mobilization, ambulation, and passive and active range of motion per plan of care
• Applies/removes pneumatic sequential compression sleeves
• Adheres to standard precautions
• Adheres to hand hygiene guidelines
• Assists with the admission/discharge process
• Provides safe patient transportation
• Orients patients and families/visitors to surroundings
• Ensures safekeeping of patient valuables, including packing and storing
• Checks patients for ID bands and notifies nurse if replacement is needed

Patient Data and Specimen Collection:

• Utilizes two (2) patient identifiers for proper patient identification before all specimen collections
• Obtains and records vital signs, pulse oximetry, and non-invasive B/P and immediately report changes to RN/licensed nurse.
• Performs blood glucose testing

Equipment:

• Retrieves equipment from other areas
• Cleans equipment between patient use

Follows equipment management protocols on the assigned unit for patient benefit:

• Cardiac monitors
• Portable oxygen cylinder
• Nasal cannula/face mask
• Pulse oximeter and probe
• Suction canister-liner system
• Patient lifting equipment
• Scales: Standing/Chair/Wheelchair

Provides a Safe and Comfortable Patient/Family experience:

• Adheres to service excellence standards during care provision with the respectful, courteous, culturally sensitive care
• Responds to call lights promptly and prioritizes call light response appropriately
• Participates in hourly rounding per unit protocol
• Provides constant observation for patients at risk for injury in person or virtually
• Reapplies soft restraints/roll belt per unit protocol
• Uses principles of Safe Patient Handling

Documentation on Approved Forms and in Medical Records:

• Records intake of fluids and food
• Records height and weight
• Records output of urine, stool, vomitus, and drain output
• Records vital signs, pulse oximetry, and non-invasive BPs
• Records blood glucose results

Qualifications:

Years of Experience: Six months experience as a Nursing Assistant or a Nursing Student currently enrolled in a formal program who has completed at least one clinical rotation or is presently enrolled in, and completes, the NWH Patient Care Associate Training Program

Education:

• High school graduate or equivalent
• Certification as a Nursing Assistant preferred

Language Skills: Proficient in English, both verbally and written

Requirements:

• Successful completion of the literacy exam with a score of 80% or better (PCA Training Program candidates only)
• CPR training required
• Knowledge of the English language sufficient to read, speak, and write accurately
• Knowledge of simple arithmetic
• Ability to lift and transport patients safely using the appropriate physical technique for the patient and self, according to Safe Patient Handling Guidelines.
• Ability to master basic computer skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact effectively with patients, visitors, and hospital personnel