Patient Care Aide — Compassionate Daily Support

DCH Health System; Tuscaloosa (AL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

DCH Health System in Tuscaloosa, AL is hiring Patient Care Assistants to provide compassionate daily care and emotional support under RN/LPN supervision. You will work with the nursing team to monitor patients and help ensure a safe, healing environment.

Responsibilities include patient rounds, vital signs, ADL assistance, documentation, and adherence to DCH standards. Applicants should have a high school diploma or GED, be fluent in English, and have or obtain BLS.

Qualifications

• Approved previous experience in giving patient care or completion of in-service education classes.
• High school education or equivalent OR one year direct patient care experience.
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
• BLS required or achieved within first 90 days of employment.

Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate personal care and support services under the supervision of a registered nurse or LPN.
• Collaborates with nurses, physicians and other healthcare providers to oversee and monitor patients to support healing.
• Receive RN report at start of shift.
• Walking rounds and shift report with off going PCA to ensure patients clean and dry/ rooms clean.
• Apply cardiac monitoring; Change all cardiac monitor batteries at 7am (on designated units?)
• Document patient bedside rounds q2h (odd hours)
• Conduct 4 P’s on every round: Pain, Position, Potty, Perimeter
• Document patient vital signs q4h (or as ordered)
• Daily Glucometer QC (Night shift)
• Bathe patients daily (change for pts with central lines)
• Replace EKG pads (cardiac monitor) daily with baths
• Daily linen change
• Assist patient with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) - ie. brushing/mouth care, feeding patient, assisting with toileting, etc.)
• Obtain blood sugars on all diabetic patients and document
• Stock isolation caddies in halls and rooms are stocked for next shift
• Keep patient rooms clean and free from clutter (empty urinals, commodes, food, clutter, etc)
• Empty trash from assigned rooms as needed and prior to change of shift
• Answer call lights in a timely manner
• Initiate or continue pressure ulcer bundle (consult with RN for Braden scores)
• Turn/Reposition patients every 2 hours in bed or chair
• Initiate or continue Fall Prevention protocol (see Unit Secretary for Morse Scores)
• Weigh all patients on admission and every Wednesday at 5am (unless patient is a daily weight) standing scale preferred***
• Prepare rooms for admission (admission bucket-bath basin, soap, kleenex, water pitcher, etc.)
• Update patient whiteboards Daily.
• Daily bath on night shift – DIALYSIS / Pre-Procedural patients
• Fresh Ice given at 1700/0500 for start of next shift
• Vital sign machines wiped down and stocked for next shift
• Assists in orientation of new staff
• Other duties as assigned
• Measure and Record Intake/Output
• Accurately documents care provided according to policies and procedures.
• Applies safety principles when performing care such as ambulation of patients, transferring patients, assisting withnormal range of motion, and positioning, and fall prevention techniques.
• Participates in cost saving utilization of supplies

Skills

Patient care

English literacy

BLS

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

DCH Health System in Tuscaloosa, AL is hiring Patient Care Assistants to provide compassionate daily care and emotional support under RN/LPN supervision. You will work with the nursing team to monitor patients and help ensure a safe, healing environment.

Responsibilities include patient rounds, vital signs, ADL assistance, documentation, and adherence to DCH standards. Applicants should have a high school diploma or GED, be fluent in English, and have or obtain BLS.