Patient Care Assistant - Float Pool ICU - Full Time 12 Hour Days (Non-Exempt) (Union)

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Keck Hospital of USC in Los Angeles is seeking a Patient Care Technician (PCT) to support nursing staff with patient care delivery, clerical tasks, and unit organization.

The role emphasizes timely response to call lights, accurate documentation, and teamwork with RNs to implement patient care plans while maintaining a safe, clean environment.

Qualifications

• High School or equivalent
• Pref 1 year Experience in a health care setting
• Req Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing.
• Req Certified Nursing Assistant (CA DPH)
• Req Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association

Responsibilities

• Responds to patient calls within 10 minutes and anticipates patient needs.
• Maintains clean and organized patient rooms and documents care provided.
• Collaborates with RN/Charge Nurse to implement and adjust patient plans of care.
• Ensure safety of patient and unit equipment and protect patient confidentiality.

Skills

CNA (CA DPH)

BLS Healthcare Provider

English proficiency

Education

High School or equivalent

Job description

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) provides nursing staff support in the areas of patient care delivery, clerical functions, and organization of the unit environment, as well as set-up and maintenance of equipment. The emphasis on each of these areas will depend on the unit assigned.

Patient Satisfaction

• Responds to patient call within 10 minutes.
• Anticipates pts needs
• Proactively makes rounds to reduce patient calls
• Maintains positive behaviors toward patients and visitors
• Smiles and is pleasant during all interactions
• Provides RN with necessary data related to patient assessment.
• Contributes input into the patient’s plan of care and accurately implements interventions on the patient’s plan of care, in collaboration with the RN.

Essential Patient Care Skills

• Vitals
• Daily weight
• I & O
• Hygiene: bath, peri-care, oral care, HS care, hair care
• Maintains clear and organized patient rooms
• Assist with meals/feeding
• Ambulation/mobility; turn bed patients every 2 hours, transfers from bed to chair
• Provides fresh water at beginning and end of shift and prn
• Appropriately prioritizes patient needs

Safety

• Ensures safe physical environment and ensures safe operation of patient-care equipment
• Call light/telephone with reach
• Floors clear of fall hazards
• Maintains uncluttered and easy access to bathroom, ambulation, and emergency equipment.
• Commodes
• Walkers
• Shower chairs
• IV poles
• Beds
• Tables/Chairs

Documentation

• Documents all care provided, including vital signs, intake and output, meal percentages, equipment used, and patient care.

Communication

• Makes presence known before entering a room or private area
• Identifies/introduces self to patient and visitors
• Explains plan of care to the patient
• Does not engage in inappropriate discussions regarding other patients and unit operations
• Knows and utilizes all computerized systems to send messages, document care, and communicate patient/unit needs to various departments.
• Knows and follows line of communication within the department.
• Reports to RN/Charge Nurse pertinent information/significant change in patient condition/patient and family concerns and patient refusal of care in a timely manner.
• Reports to RN/Charge Nurse patient’s inability to perform self-care and describes actions taken which were ineffective.
• Actively collaborates with the RN at the beginning and throughout the shift regarding patient care and data collection.

Regulatory Agency

• Ensures that the unit is in continuous survey readiness
• No food/drink in nurses station
• No open containers in patient pantry
• No outside food in patient refrigerator
• No boxes etc. or floor
• Staff refrigerator kept clean
• Linens covered at all times
• Keep fire door closed
• Maintain clean/tidy nurses station, locker room, pantry
• Maintain patient confidentiality
• Ensures confidentiality of patient records and other written information
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High School or equivalent
• Pref 1 year Experience in a health care setting
• Req Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing.
• Req Certified Nursing Assistant (CA DPH)
• Req Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Provider from American Heart Association
• Req Fire Life Safety Training (LA City) If no card upon hire, one must be obtained within 30 days of hire and maintained by renewal before expiration date. (Required within LA City only)

Keck Hospital of USC, a 343-bed acute care hospital, provides exceptional and innovative care for complex medical and surgical conditions across a wide range of specialties. The hospital’s world-renowned physicians deliver compassionate, customized, patient-centered care and treat the most acutely ill patients with highly innovative techniques and treatment plans. As a leading academic medical center, hundreds of clinical trials are currently taking place at Keck Hospital and its affiliated research institutions, giving patients access to novel and promising therapies that are generally not available elsewhere. Every day at Keck Hospital, physicians, nurses and staff go beyond the science of exceptional medicine to bring patients breakthroughs in the art of caring. Join this world-class team providing highly specialized care, up-to-the-minute research, and innovative clinical trials.

The hourly rate range for this position is $22.88 - $38.90.

When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety.

Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at [phone], or by email at [e-mail]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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Keck Medicine of USC is the University of Southern California’s medical enterprise, one of only two university-based medical systems in the Los Angeles area. Keck Medicine combines academic excellence, world-class research and state-of-the-art facilities to provide highly specialized care for some of the most acute patients in the country. Our internationally renowned physicians and scientists provide world-class patient care at Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, USC Arcadia Hospital and more than 100 unique clinics in Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Tulare and Ventura counties. Keck Medical Center of USC, which includes Keck Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital, is among the top 50 hospitals in the country in 8 specialties, as well as the top three hospitals in metro Los Angeles and top 10 hospitals in California, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-25 Best Hospitals rankings.

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