Patient Care Assistant PCA - Med/Surg

Tower Health; Reading (Berks County); Hybrid; USD 19,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Tower Health’s Reading Hospital is looking for a Patient Care Assistant to provide nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse, supporting daily patient needs and ensuring comfort and safety on the unit. We offer 12-hour shifts with full-time and part-time openings, weekend and holiday rotations, and a collaborative team environment where compassionate care is valued.

Responsibilities include assisting with activities of daily living, documenting care in electronic medical records,

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities are essential.
• Ability to work in a hospital environment and follow supervision.

Responsibilities

• Assist daily living activities in a hospital setting (bathing, changing, toileting, dressing, etc.).
• Light housekeeping in patient rooms and maintaining cleanliness in utility rooms, linen, storage closets, and hallways.
• Provide clinical patient care that does not require a nursing license.
• Assist with call lights, phones, and orienting patient families/visitors, and maintaining properly stocked patient care areas.
• Maintain correct electronic medical records and document all patient care interactions.
• Review and discuss patient care plans with the assigned Registered Nurse.
• Maintain efficient patient flow by being aware of room availability and patient intakes/discharges.
• Clean patient rooms after discharge and dispose of used items properly; ensure sterilization of reusable items.

Skills

Excellent Communications Skills

Excellent Interpersonal Skills

Job description

Job Summary

The Patient Care Assistant is responsible for providing nursing care to patients under the supervision and direction of a registered nurse.

• All Patient Care Assistants duties are subject, but not limited to:
  • Assisted Daily Livings within a hospital setting (bathing, changing, toileting, dressing, etc..)
  • Light Housekeeping in the patient rooms, as well as maintaining cleanliness in the utility rooms, linen and storage closets, and hallways.
  • Clinical patient care that does not require a nursing license to perform
  • Assisting with call lights, phone operations, and orienting patient families/visitors, and maintaining properly stocked patient care areas.
  • Maintaining correct electronic medical records, and properly documenting all patient care interactions.
  • Reviews and discusses patient care plans, as well as ongoing patient care activities with the assigned Registered Nurse.
  • Maintains efficient patient flow by being aware of room availability and patient intakes/discharges.
  • Cleans patient rooms after patient discharge with the assistance of the nursing staff, and properly disposes of all items used during a patient stay in the proper containers. Reusable items must be correctly processed for sterilization and reuse.
  • Must demonstrate knowledge and execution of correct patient safety practices.
  • Demonstrates responsible, professional behavior in all aspects of the job, while working in a team setting.

Work Schedule

Full-Time & Part-Time Openings. 12 hour shifts (7:00am-7:30pm or 7:00pm-7:30am). Weekend and holiday rotations.

Qualifications

Education Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.

Experience

• Direct patient care experience preferred, but not required for employment.

Certification and Licensure

• BLS Certification

Required Skills

• Excellent Communications Skills
• Excellent Interpersonal Skills

Medical Division Units Overview:

• R4E

  Observation Unit- 24 bed Observation Unit. This unit cares for patients from the Emergency Department, which require additional diagnostic testing or therapeutic interventions beyond their initial treatment in the ED but will be discharged within 24 hours. Thorough patient assessments and appropriate treatments allows for increased accuracy of diagnosis, plan of care and discharge placement. We are a multidisciplinary team that works together to provide excellent care, service, and education for our patients and their families.

• R3E

  Medical Unit- 42-bed Adult Med/Surg unit that provides care to adult and geriatric medical patients. R3E works closely with the Hospitalist physicians and the Hildreth Teaching Service Residents. Patients are commonly admitted for a multitude of different medical diagnosis ranging from infections, COPD, pneumonia, sepsis, gastrointestinal complications, substance abuse withdrawal, diabetic complications and more.

• R3S

  Medical Unit- 37 bed medical unit serving adults with varying medical needs such as sepsis, cellulitis, gastrointestinal bleed, pneumonia, diabetic complications, urinary tract infection and other general medical needs. R3S works as a collaborative team to care for our patients to provide the best possible outcomes while maintaining patient’s preference. The unit care team on R3S, among others who care for the patients, is comprised of RNs, patient care assistants, care managers, respiratory care, clinical nurse specialists and providers.

• N3S

  Medical Unit- 32 bed general medical unit, specializing in adult complex conditions with a main focus on respiratory diseases. Our nurses work closely with the physician, care manager, social worker, and PT/OT to ensure we deliver high quality/safe care to our patients.

• N2S

  Heart Failure Unit- 32 bed Telemetry/Heart Failure Accredited Unit providing comprehensive care to patients with complex cardiac conditions including heart failure, chest pain, dysrhythmias, syncope, pre and post cardiac procedures, and respiratory conditions. The team delivers compassionate, comprehensive care to hemodynamically stable patients requiring close monitoring of certain cardiac drips. The staff is comprised of a team of clinical registered nurses and patient care assistants who collaborate with providers, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, clinical nurse specialists, respiratory therapists, and care coordinators.

• N2W

  Heart Failure & Cardiac Unit- 31 bed unit specializing in Heart Failure, peri-interventional cardiology care, and medical telemetry. The energetic and dynamic nursing team provides high quality, patient centered care for those who do not require critical care nursing, but who have complex cardiovascular conditions. These patients commonly have the diagnoses of CHF, ACS, AMI, dysrhythmia, or syncope in addition to other concomitant medical diagnoses

• C3

  Medical Unit - 27 bed unit. Common diagnoses include sepsis, cellulitis, gastrointestinal bleed, pneumonia, diabetic complications, and medical management pre- and post- liver transplant. C3’s care team includes close collaboration with physicians, social workers, case management, and pharmacists to provide comprehensive care. Our care standards include bedside shift report, meaningful hourly rounding, and interdisciplinary care team rounds.

Surgical Division Units Overview:

• N5W

  Surgical Unit- 28-bed unit specializing in a variety of general surgical procedures, with additional expertise in urology and peritoneal dialysis. Our diverse patient population provides nurses with a unique opportunity to develop a broad scope of knowledge and clinical skills. N5W is the perfect place to grow, whether you are a novice nurse beginning your career or an experienced nurse looking to expand your expertise. We take pride in developing new nurses from novice to proficient through hands-on experience, education, mentorship, and a supportive team environment. Our team values collaboration, professional growth, and a commitment to providing exceptional patient care.

• N3S

  Medical Unit- 32-bed, semi-private unit providing care to a diverse adult and geriatric patient population. Our dynamic and talented team of nurses frequently cares for patients with a variety of complex medical conditions, including sepsis, pneumonia, gastrointestinal bleeding, and diabetic complications. N3S takes great pride in our commitment to patient safety and quality outcomes. Our team has made significant efforts to reduce patient falls and improve the overall quality of care on the unit. At N3S, teamwork, collaboration, and continuous improvement are at the heart of what we do. We are committed to providing safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care while supporting the professional growth of every member of our team.

Why Reading Hospital?

• 2025 America’s 50 Best Hospitals Award
• Recipient of Excellence Award: Stroke Care, Neurosciences, Pulmonary Care, and Critical Care
• Magnet Status
• Level 1 Trauma Center
• Ranked Among Top Ten Hospitals in Pennsylvania
• 5-Star Rating for Overall Hospital Quality
• Vizient Graduate Nurse Residency Program for all new RN grads

Discover why our hospital is a great place to work—take a virtual tour of our facility here: Reading Hospital Virtual Tour

Overview

Tower Health, a regional healthcare system, serves communities across multiple counties in Pennsylvania. Its network includes Reading Hospital, Phoenixville Hospital, Pottstown Hospital, and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children (in partnership with Drexel University). Committed to academic medicine and training, Tower Health offers various programs, including residency and fellowship programs, the Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health, and the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences. Additionally, the system provides a wide range of healthcare services, such as Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing, home healthcare via Tower Health at Home, TowerDirect ambulance and emergency response, Tower Health Medical Group, Tower Health Providers (a clinically integrated network), and Tower Health Urgent Care facilities across its service area.