Emergency Department Assistant- Emergency Department

Patient Care Assistant

Under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse, assist nursing staff and physicians with direct patient care and treatments, transports patients to tests and procedures, behavioral health interventions, and contribute to the overall orderliness and cleanliness of the unit. Must have demonstrated competency in simple mathematics, reading, writing, following instructions, and checking of patient records and forms.

Job Responsibilities

1) Provides age-appropriate care to patients. Demonstrated knowledge of developmental stages for the various age groups and applies developmental theories and concepts when planning and implementing care for patients in trauma, pediatric, general emergency, and behavioral health PODs.

2) Observes patient conditions (physical and mental) and report pertinent information to RN, MD, or Psychiatric Clinical professional.

3) Assists with direct patient care activities as directed by the RN. Including personal care of the patient (i.e. bathing, shaving). Transfer or assists with the transfer of patients in accordance with lifting and positioning of patients, adheres to infection control techniques. Assists in ensuring safety measures are in place for the patient (re: falls, lifting, restraints, call lights, side rails, and bed position).

4) Assist RN with taking vital signs - Blood Pressure, temperature, respiration.

5) Administers procedures in accordance with Baystate Health Policy. Performs postmortem care in accordance with divisional procedures, and transports deceased within one to two hours of expiration. Obtains bed and standing scale weights on assigned patients in accordance with divisional procedure obtain and accurately sets up traction, trapezes, and water mattresses within 30-60 minutes of a specified timeframe. Safely Transfers patients with transfer device and lift.

6) Maintains safe operation of designated equipment and assists to ensure the orderliness of the nursing unit. Reports faulty/missing equipment upon discovery, ensure bed scales, Argo lifts, and morgue stretchers are clean and functional, removes and tags faulty equipment within 10-15 minutes, cleans and organizes patient care areas as assigned, and disposes of laundry as directed.

7) Adhere to proper de-escalation techniques with patients, follow all restraint guidelines and engage security, and call proper and additional staff when needed in emerging escalating situations.

8) If assigned to behavioral health pod will perform the following duties: Wanding patients for weapons, obtaining proper signatures, completing Continuous Observation Flow sheets and CMS Flow sheets, looking for alternatives prior to restrains, and following all escape precautions.

9) Complete clear and accurate documentation when charting in all systems including IFS.

10) Completes all reports and forms in a clear and accurate manner including Seclusion/Restraint flow sheets and order sheets and Psych Advocate report if assigned to Behavioral Health Pod.

11) Participates and attends all required training, in-services, staff meetings, and open forums as requested, and reviews staff meeting minutes. Keep abreast of policy changes, read e-mails regularly, arrive to work on time ready to start work at the beginning of the shift.

Skills and Competencies

1) Must successfully complete orderly orientation program during 90-day orientation period

2) Strong Communication Skills

3) Strong teamwork skills

4) Knowledge of and ability to assist with emergency procedures

5) Critical thinking skills and judgment - identify patient/family members needs, assess the potential impact on patient/customer when making decisions, develop alternatives when the best course of action if not available

6) High level of service standards including use of empathy, listening skill and problem solving

7) Example: Introducing yourself and your role to the patients, identify needs of the patients/customers, project a positive manner, be able to deal successfully with challenging day to day interactions with families, visitors, patient and other team members

Note: The compensation range(s) in the table below represent the base salaries for all positions at a given grade across the health system. Typically, a new hire can expect a starting salary somewhere in the lower part of the range. Actual salaries may vary by position and will be determined based on the candidate's relevant experience. No employee will be paid below the minimum of the range. Pay ranges are listed as hourly for non-exempt employees and based on assumed full time commitment for exempt employees.

Minimum - Midpoint - Maximum

$16.34 - $18.78 - $21.46

Baystate Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.