Patient Care Associate

VPNE Parking Solutions LLC; Northampton (MA); On-site; USD 2,066,000 - 2,755,000; Full time

Job summary

VPNE Parking Solutions LLC is seeking a Patient Care Associate to join our clinical team. Under the direction of an RN, the PCA assists in direct patient care and supports the interdisciplinary health care team to promote safety and compassion.

Responsibilities include assisting with activities of daily living, data collection, documentation, patient transport, and maintaining privacy and infection prevention practices.

Qualifications

• General patient care skills and ability to work within an interdisciplinary team.
• Proficiency in English for reading, writing and communication with patients and staff.
• CPR training required; knowledge of simple arithmetic.

Responsibilities

• Assist with direct patient care needs and daily living activities.
• Maintain privacy and confidentiality of patient information.
• Assist with data collection, vital signs, and specimen collection as directed by RN.
• Prepare and set up equipment; provide safe patient transportation.
• Document care in approved forms or EMR and monitor patient safety.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

English proficiency

CPR training

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Nursing Assistant certification preferred

Job description

Position Summary

Under the direction of a registered/licensed nurse (RN), the Patient Care Associate (PCA), as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team, assists in clinical support functions to promote a safe, compassionate patient care environment.

Responsibilities

• Assists with meeting direct patient care needs
• Consistently foster a healing environment with respect and kindness, demonstrating respect for all individuals with sensitivity to cultural diversity.
• Contributes to the plan of care through ongoing communication with the RN
• Assists with patient data and specimen collection
• Assists with equipment preparation and set up
• Completes hourly patient care rounds, anticipating patient needs proactively
• Maintains patient and family privacy and confidentiality
• Responds to patient and family requests, including answering patient call lights promptly
• Seeks registered nurse assistance to meet patient/family needs when necessary.
• Communicates respectfully with all members of the interdisciplinary team
• Monitors patient and environment for safety concerns and immediately reports changes to RN/licensed nurse
• Maintains a safe and clean patient care environment
• Other duties as assigned
• Assists with activities of daily living (i.e., personal hygiene/grooming, bathing/showering, toileting, dressing, and functionality/mobility)
• Sets up food trays and assists patients with meals as indicated
• Performs preventative skincare
• Assists patients with positioning, turning, mobilization, ambulation, and passive and active range of motion per plan of care
• Applies/removes pneumatic sequential compression sleeves
• Adheres to standard precautions
• Adheres to hand hygiene guidelines
• Assists with the admission/discharge process
• Provides safe patient transportation
• Orients patients and families/visitors to surroundings
• Ensures safekeeping of patient valuables, including packing and storing
• Checks patients for ID bands and notifies nurse if replacement is needed

Follows Infection Prevention Practices

• Demonstrate proper hand washing 100% of the time.
• Utilizes two patient identifiers for appropriate patient identification before all specimen collections
• Follows Safe Patient Handling principles to maintain safety for both patients and staff
• Documents aspects of care on approved forms or electronic medical record
• Participates as a member of the Interdisciplinary team to meet patient/family and unit/department needs
• Proactively assists others
• Performs delegated responsibilities and demonstrates a willingness to adapt to changing unit demands
• Provides care appropriate to the age group of patients on assigned unit(s) as described in the relevant unit profiles
• Completes annual required training
• Updates knowledge through periodic in-services
• Other duties as assigned

Patient Data and Specimen Collection

• Utilizes two (2) patient identifiers for proper patient identification before all specimen collections
• Obtains and records vital signs, pulse oximetry, and non-invasive B/P and immediately report changes to RN/licensed nurse.
• Performs blood glucose testing

Equipment

• Retrieves equipment from other areas
• Cleans equipment between patient use
• Follows equipment management protocols on the assigned unit for patient benefit:
• Cardiac monitors
• Portable oxygen cylinder
• Nasal cannula/face mask
• Pulse oximeter and probe
• Suction canister-liner system

Patient lifting equipment

• Scales: Standing/Chair/Wheelchair

Documentation on Approved Forms and in Medical Records

• Records intake of fluids and food
• Records height and weight
• Records output of urine, stool, vomitus, and drain output
• Records vital signs, pulse oximetry, and non-invasive BPs
• Records blood glucose results

Qualifications

Years of Experience: Six months experience as a Nursing Assistant or a Nursing Student currently enrolled in a formal program who has completed at least one clinical rotation or is presently enrolled in, and completes, the NWH Patient Care Associate Training Program

Education

• High school graduate or equivalent
• Certification as a Nursing Assistant preferred

Language Skills

Proficient in English, both verbally and written

Requirements

• Successful completion of the literacy exam with a score of 80% or better (PCA Training Program candidates only)
• CPR training required
• Knowledge of the English language sufficient to read, speak, and write accurately
• Knowledge of simple arithmetic
• Ability to lift and transport patients safely using the appropriate physical technique for the patient and self, according to Safe Patient Handling Guidelines.
• Ability to master basic computer skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact effectively with patients, visitors, and hospital personnel

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