PCT (Patient Care Tech)

Unit Notes
Department: Psychiatric Adult | PCT
*Required Certifications: BLS, PCT Cert, De-escalation training
Day shift 7:00am-3:30pm
Evening 3:00pm-11:30pm
Nights 11:00pm-7:30am

- # Beds: 26 beds
- Nurse: Patient Ratios: 1:6-7
- Required certifications: BLS, PCT Cert, De-escalation training.
- Patient Populations/Common diagnoses: 18+ adults, schizophrenic, bipolar,
schizoaffective, drug induced psychosis, MDD, substance abuse. Rare detox patient.
- Experience: Must have 1 year of in Psych experience.
Ok with first time travelers.
- Do you ever have IV's on this unit?: No
- Charge Nurses: Charge Nurse or assistant nursing care coordinators run the unit 24 hours,
1 in am and 1 at night, No travelers could be placed in charge role. Charge/ ANCC takes a
full assignment.
- Do you use physical restraints on this unit?: 4 points, leather- changing to another/ plastic,
and will be covered in orientation, rare seclusion.
- PCT: PCTs-Job Duties: safety checks, room checks, vitals, weights on Saturday, ADLs,
directly observing patient care, rounding every 15 minutes, phlebotomy (must have prior
experience- will do some re-education on unit), blood glucose checks, EKGs, 1:1s, and
assisting nursing staff as needed.
- Is RT available if needed? If patients have oxygen or need treatments does RT do these?:
Home cpap and bipap, rarely used for sleep only.
- Is there tele on this unit? Monitor Techs? RNs read strips?: No
- Shifts & Scheduling: RN start at 7a-730p, 7p-730a. PCT Shifts: Days 0700-1530, Evenings
1500-2330, Nights 2300-0730. Travelers to give availability and they will do their best to
accommodate requests, but ask travelers to stay flexible and fill gaps in permanent
scheduling; do not guarantee block scheduling. Excessive call-ins are taken seriously and
could lead to termination.
- Weekend Requirements: Every other weekend.
- Holiday Requirements: Winter holidays high, At least 2-3 in a year.
- Is there call or a standby requirement?: Potentially in evenings, in emergency might ask to
pick up
- Floating Requirements: Travelers are first to float. Float to any psych to adults and children
units, psych emergency- crisis area, 5 beds/acute phase, detox, rehab.
- Scrub Color: Maroon Red
- Unit Specific Orientation: 3 days on this units and will orient to some units that you can
float to.

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