Patient Care Technician

PURPOSE: The Patient Care Technician is a supportive nursing role with required clinical competencies in infection control, universal precautions, and personal care services. The Patient Care Technician contributes as an interdisciplinary team member in achieving patient plan of care goals through completion of care tasks as appropriately delegated by a Registered/Licensed Nurse.

ENVIRONMENT:

Lincoln Health is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital. The facility employs 150-200 employees.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Safe Environment

• Follows proper universal precautions and infection control procedures 100% of the time, including handwashing
• Provides compassionate patient care in a respectful environment
• Maintains patient dignity and rights, and demonstrates sensitivity to cultural diversity
• Ensures safe environment and safe patient experience
• Effectively communicates with patients
• Maintains patient confidentiality
• Utilizes appropriate patient identification methods when providing direct care
• Follows abuse reporting requirements
• Provides close monitoring and observation of at-risk patients
• Demonstrates safe patient handling and transfers
• Effectively communicates and documents patient observations
• Reports on changes in patient health status, as defined by the facility policy
• Completes designated care tasks timely

Direct Care

• Assist patients with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), including bathing, grooming, toileting, dressing, and feeding.
• Obtains and documents vital signs and relevant patient data defined in the patient care plan: Intake (food, fluid); Output (urine, stool), Blood glucose monitoring results, Height, Weight, Oxygen Saturation, Temperature, Blood Pressure.
• Ensures patient cleanliness through assistance with/provision of hygiene and elimination care
• Assists with safe patient mobility including use of gait belt, wheelchair, hoyer-lift, and other assistive devices
• Provides repositioning/pressure-relief for at-risk patients
• Applies compression stockings, pneumatic compression boots, assistive devices
• Assists with patient nutritional needs, including feeding and adherence to specified dietary orders
• Responds to patient call lights promptly and conducts safety checks as dictated by the facility policy
• Assists with patient care procedures under direct supervision of a Registered/Licensed Nurse as defined by the facility policy
• Orients patient/family to surroundings
• Assist with equipment preparation/set up as per facility policy
• Other duties as assigned

EXPOSURE RISK:

Working with patients in a medical capacity puts patient care technicians at risk of exposure to blood, urine, saliva, and other body fluids.  This increases the risk of contracting hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus and other diseases.  Other exposures include sharp injuries, chemicals, and drug exposure, back injuries, and latex allergies. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONISIBILITIES:

NONE

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to complete a POET, background check, and drug screen.

Must receive a yearly flu vaccination for the season that runs between the months of November 1 – April 1.  If employed here the vaccine must be taken before October 31.  Must have the ability to read / write English and document observations.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED)

Current American Heart Association Basic Life Safety Certification or ability to acquire within 2mos of hire date

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

Effective verbal and written communication skills in computer, charting, and telephone

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.  Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to read, write, and comprehend instructions, correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to speak slowly and clearly to be understood by people with hearing loss.
• Ability to work as part of a team, to adapt to various personality types willingness to help co-workers and adaptability.
• Time management skills to arrive at work on time and accomplish assigned tasks during a shift.
• Patience, compassion, and empathy with others and being respectful; interacts in a polite manner, being responsive.
• Policies regarding gait belt usage, name badge, HealthStream, weather, and all others must always be followed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands, reach with hands and arms, talk, or hear, and taste or smell.  The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl while using proper body mechanics.  The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb, and/or balance.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to contact precautions and droplet precautions.  The employee is frequently exposed to airborne precautions.  The employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions, and bloodborne pathogens.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Salary : $15 - $17