Patient Care Associate, Adult Psych - Toms River, NJ

Job Title: Patient Care Associate

Location: Central Jersey Behavioral

Department Name: Adult Psych (AP)

Req #: 0000256686

Status: Hourly

Shift: Night

Pay Range: $24.67 - $24.67 per hour

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated hourly wage range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Patient Care Associate (PCA) – RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center

The RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center, in collaboration with Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus Behavioral Health Services, is a freestanding 100-bed acute care psychiatric facility offering specialized inpatient and intensive outpatient services for adults and older adults with psychiatric and co-occurring disorders. Whether supporting patients on our Short-Term Care, Adult Psychiatry, or Kimball Northeast/Voluntary units, you’ll have the opportunity to make a lasting difference every day.

Adult Psych (AP) Barnabas Unit: Serves a general adult psychiatric population, including a dedicated 20-bed cohort for older adults ages 65 and older. Care is tailored to address both psychiatric needs and age-related medical and cognitive considerations.

At RWJBarnabas Health, Patient Care Associates are an essential part of our multidisciplinary behavioral health team, providing compassionate, hands-on care that helps patients feel safe, supported, and respected throughout their recovery journey. Working under the direct supervision of the registered nurse, you’ll play a meaningful role in delivering exceptional psychiatric care while building valuable clinical experience in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

A typical day for a Patient Care Associate may include:

• Providing direct patient care by assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), personal hygiene, mobility, and nutritional needs
• Taking and documenting vital signs while reporting changes in the patient's condition to the nursing team
• Providing one-to-one observation and group supervision to help maintain a safe, therapeutic environment
• Supporting patients with compassion, dignity, and respect while encouraging independence whenever appropriate
• Transporting patients safely to ancillary departments and emergency services as needed
• Collaborating with nurses and the interdisciplinary care team to support individualized treatment plans
• Accurately documenting patient care activities in accordance with hospital policies and procedures
• Helping maintain a clean, organized, and safe patient care environment
• Building trusting relationships with patients through empathy, professionalism, and effective communication
• Continuing to grow professionally through training, education, and opportunities within RWJBarnabas Health

This role might be for you if:

• You are passionate about helping others during some of the most challenging moments of their lives
• Compassion, patience, and empathy guide the way you care for others
• You remain calm and professional in fast-paced or changing situations
• You enjoy working collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team
• You communicate effectively with patients, families, and colleagues
• You are dependable, observant, and attentive to detail
• You value creating a safe, supportive, and respectful environment for every patient

To be considered for this Patient Care Associate opportunity:

• You have a High School Diploma or GED.
• You have successfully completed all required orientation programs.
• A current American Heart Association BLS certification is required.
• Previous experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Home Health Aide (HHA), Patient Care Technician (PCT), or Patient Care Associate is preferred.
• New Jersey PCA certification is preferred.
• In this per diem position, a minimum of one year of experience working as a Patient Care Associate with geriatric patients is required.

Schedule:

• Per Diem
• Night shifts 
• Every other weekend required