PATIENT CARE ASSISTANT

Covenant-Health; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Parkwest Medical Center, part of Covenant Health, seeks a Patient Care Assistant for Orthopedic-Neuro and Bariatric units. This PRN role involves hands-on care, ADL assistance and patient supervision under RN supervision.

Responsibilities include monitoring vitals, assisting with mobility, feeding, hygiene, and maintaining a safe, clean environment while adhering to infection control policies. CPR is required.

Qualifications

• HS diploma or GED; equivalent education accepted.
• CPR certification required.
• Prior healthcare or patient care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Take and record vital signs and measurements.
• Assist with ADLs and mobility.
• Provide basic patient care and comfort.
• Assist with meals, hydration and hygiene.
• Ensure infection control and safety protocols are followed.
• Respond to patient calls and RN requests promptly.
• Document patient information as required.
• Support sitter duties when needed.

Skills

Patient care

ADL assistance

Vital signs

Infection control

Team communication

Education

HS diploma or GED; equivalent education accepted

Tools

EKG

Phlebotomy

Suction setup

Oxygen setup

Job description

Overview

Patient Care Assistant, Orthopedic-Neuro, Bariatric

PRN/OCC, Variable Hours and Shifts

Parkwest Overview:

Parkwest Medical Center, Covenant Health’s flagship facility in West Knoxville, combines world-class cardiacexpertisewith the warmth of home in serving a vibrant East Tennessee community. Since 1973, Parkwest has grown into the region’s largest hospital in the area, offering advanced services like an all-digital catheterization lab, comprehensive breast health, emergency, and critical care.It’sconsistently ranked among Tennessee's top 10 hospitals by U.S.News & World Report and earns national recognition as a Top100 Heart Hospital, as well as an “A” safety grade from Leapfrog. As part of Covenant Health, the region’s largest employer, ParkwestMedicalCenter,marriescutting-edgetechnology with compassionate, community-centered care, earning accolades for cardiology, stroke, surgical excellence, and patient safety.

To learn more about Parkwest Medical Center and ourunits, visitCovenant Health Parkwest Medical Center Opportunities.

Position Summary:

Functions as a direct patient caregiver performing tasks to assist registered nurses. Performs hands-on care, assistance with ADL’s and specified technical tasks for a group of patients under the supervision of the Team Leader. May also function as a sitter for patients in need of full‑time supervision in the hospital.

Responsibilities

• Take and record temperature, pulse, respiration rates, blood pressures, weights, heights, and intake-output measurements.
• Encourage patients to turn, cough, and take deep breaths and to use incentive spirometry as specified by Plan of Care.
• Ambulate, and assist patients in and out of bed, into wheelchairs and transport when necessary.
• Attends to nutritional needs of patient which may include distributing meal trays, feeding, filling and passing out water pitchers,
• Provides morning or evening care, which may include bed bath, oral hygiene, combing hair, back care, dressing patient, changing bed linen, cleaning over-bed table and bedside stand, straightening room, and other supportive care as needed.
• Empty drains, canisters, urine bags, bedpans and emesis basins and record intake and output.
• Assists in maintaining a safe environment, which may include reporting equipment that is out of order, appropriate handling of linen and storing of supplies.
• Provides general care such as positioning, lifting or turning patients; assisting in use of bedpan, urinal or commode; preoperative supportive care; and application/removal of abdominal binders or anti-embolism stockings and sequential compression devices.
• Empty & clean ostomy bag, per procedure.
• Collect urine, stool and sputum specimen as ordered.
• Perform tasks such as ROM, assist with ambulatory devices as specified by the patients' plan of care.
• Perform phlebotomy (requires additional training). To include correct labeling using two patient identifiers, maintenance of lab-draw supplies, rotating and restocking.
• Perform EKG (requires special training).
• Promptly answer patient call lights and respond to patient requests.
• Report significant changes in patients' condition to RN.
• Help to maintain clean and orderly patient and work environment.
• Employ all established infection control policies including standard precautions, transmission-based isolation precautions, OSHA standards, safety measures and proper body mechanics in performance of job.
• Document/maintain patient record as appropriate.
• Gathers equipment for O2 set up. Checks O2 for connection and proper placement.
• Checks for proper functioning of equipment at patient bedside
• Ambulate patients with oxygen.
• Set up suction equipment and check for proper function.
• Demonstrates knowledge and competency in providing for age‑specific needs of the population served.
• Demonstrates ability to perform skills on the Nursing Assistant checklist.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Must be trained and willing to function in a Sitter capacity for patients who need full‑time supervision in the hospital.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education:

None specified; will accept any combination of formal education and/or prior work experience sufficient to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skill and ability needed to perform the essential tasks of the job, typically such as would be equivalent to a high school diploma or GED. Preference may be given to individuals possessing a HS diploma or GED.

Minimum Experience:

None.

Licensure Requirement:

CPR required