PATIENT CARE AST

UCSF Health, AG; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco is seeking a Patient Care Assistant to support registered nurses and provide direct patient care across multiple tasks. You will assist with hygiene, meals, mobility, and comfort while maintaining safety and high-quality patient interactions.

The role emphasizes teamwork, effective communication, and accurate documentation, with ongoing opportunities to learn new skills in a fast-paced clinical setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in healthcare settings.
• Ability to work within a team and under supervision.
• Strong English communication, both written and verbal.
• Basic math and measurement calculations.
• Ability to organize tasks and prioritize patient care.

Responsibilities

• Perform general patient care tasks under RN supervision (bathing, feeding, mobility, hygiene).
• Respond promptly to call lights and ensure patient safety and comfort.
• Document procedures accurately and report observations to the RN.
• Assist with admissions, transfers, and transportation of patients.
• Maintain infection control, safety, and confidentiality in line with UCSF policies.

Skills

Healthcare experience

Teamwork

English communication

Basic arithmetic

Organizational skills

Education

Medical Center Patient Care Assistant training

Job description

Job Summary

The Patient Care Assistant (PCA) receives daily assignments and functions under the supervision of the Registered Nurse to carry out direct patient care responsibilities.

All patient care team members act to meet patient needs and learn new skills to achieve quality patient care and customer service. Team members promote a cooperative working relationship with each other, other staff, and the public by facilitating and enhancing communication, displaying honesty and respect, displaying sensitivity to age specific needs and cultural differences, and expressing and accepting feedback in a professional manner.

General Patient Care – 40% of time

General Patient Care – performs general patient care duties as appropriate to ages served.

1. Provides or assists patients with personal hygiene such as bathing (tub, bed, shower), mouth care, elimination needs, and changing bed linens.
2. Responds to patients' call lights promptly.
3. Provides for patients' comfort and safety; follows prescribed measures such as ambulating, positioning, range of motion exercises, side rails, special beds and restraints.
4. Turns, moves, and transfers patients and/or equipment using principles of proper body mechanics.
5. Assists patients with food needs, such as collecting menus, setting up meal trays, cutting food, and/or feeding.
6. Records nutritional intake on appropriate records which may include selected patients on calorie count.
7. Assists in admission, discharge, transfer, and transport of patients, personal belongings and equipment.
8. Orients new patients to the room/unit.
9. Organizes and prioritizes patient care tasks and assignments, considering each patient's needs and preferences and overall unit activities.
10. Assists with post-mortem care as assigned by the RN.
11. Performs sitter/close observation responsibilities as assigned.
12. Recognizes situations which necessitate supervision/guidance and seeks appropriate resources.
13. Relates complete and pertinent information, observations, and care given to patients in verbal and written reports.
14. Documents all procedures and care given in an accurate, legible, and properly signed manner.

Technical Duties – 40% of time

Technical Duties – performs technical duties as appropriate to ages served.

1. Reports and records delegated patient data (e.g. vital signs, pain score, oxygen saturation, height, weight, intake and output), and collects other patient data as assigned.
2. Performs selected patient care procedures (e.g. basic skin care, application of hot and cold compresses/ice packs, incentive spirometry) and other treatments as assigned by the RN.
3. Carries out duties of first responder in emergency situations.
4. Sets up and maintains O2 therapy equipment.
5. Labels specimens accurately and arranges for timely delivery to the laboratory.
6. Operates nursing unit equipment (e.g. computer, fax machine, imprinter device, intercom system) as required.
7. Completes other unit maintenance activities as assigned (e.g. inventories and stocks supplies, maintains/cleans equipment such as IV pumps, dinamaps, slide boards, wheelchairs, etc.).

Other Duties and Responsibilities – 20% of time

Other Duties and Responsibilities – performs other duties as appropriate to ages served.

1. Follows all unit, department, and Medical Center policies, procedures, and work rules.
2. Maintains confidentiality in matters related to patients and/or staff.
3. Follows House and Telephone Standards as established by Medical Center.
4. Maintains knowledge of and adheres to all applicable Medical Center and unit specific infection control, health and safety policies and procedures.
5. Completes annual safety training.
6. Supports the mission, philosophy, and goals of the Medical Center.
7. Supports the development of unit/team goals and actively participates in unit staff meetings, in-services, and educational programs as required.
8. Contributes to and actively participates in the quality assurance and quality improvement process.
9. Maintains a clean, safe and functional work environment.
10. Starts work at scheduled time and completes work on time.
11. Follows guidelines on use of sick leave and other paid time off.
12. Complies with dress code, including photo identification.
13. Provides unsolicited assistance to team members.
14. Uses appropriate chain of command when applicable, e.g., problem solving, seeking information.
15. Performs other duties as assigned (e.g. emptying linen hampers, answering phones/unit reception, collecting meal trays, etc.).

LIVING PRIDE STANDARDS

Service Excellence

• Demonstrates service excellence by following the Everyday PRIDE Guide with the UCSF Medical Center standards and expectations for communication and behavior. These standards and expectations convey specific behavior associated with the Medical Center's values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence, and provide guidance on how we communicate with patients, visitors, faculty, staff, and students, virtually everyone, every day and with every encounter. These standards include, but are not limited to: personal appearance, acknowledging and greeting all patients and families, introductions using AIDET, managing up, service recovery, managing delays and expectations, phone standards, electronic communication, team work, cultural sensitivity and competency.
• Uses effective communication skills with patients and staff; demonstrates proper telephone techniques and etiquette; acts as an escort to any patient or family member needing directions; shows sensitivity to differences of culture; demonstrates a positive and supportive manner in which patients / families/ colleagues perceive interactions as positive and supportive. Exhibits team work skills to positively acknowledge and recognize other colleagues, and uses personal experiences to model and teach Living PRIDE standards.
• Exhibits tact and professionalism in difficult situations according to PRIDE Values and Practices
• Demonstrates an understanding of and adheres to privacy, confidentiality, and security policies and procedures related to Protected Health Information (PHI) or other sensitive and personal information.
• Demonstrates an understanding of and adheres to safety and infection control policies and procedures.
• Assumes accountability for improving quality metrics associated with department/unit and meeting organizational/departmental targets.

Work Environment

• Keeps working areas neat, orderly and clutter-free, including the hallways. Adheres to cleaning processes and puts things back where they belong. Removes and reports broken equipment and furniture.
• Picks up and disposes of any litter found throughout entire facility.
• Posts flyers and posters in designated areas only; does not post on walls, doors or windows.
• Knows where the Environment of Care Manual is kept in department; corrects or reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate departments.
• Protects the physical environment and equipment from damage and theft.

OTHER FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties listed in this section are not essential or intrinsic to the job but are performed at times.

Included in this section should be a general statement such as. "Perform other duties as assigned."

This phrase allows the supervisor to assign sporadic or one-time tasks as needed.

POPULATIONS SERVED

Employees who routinely provide direct patient care require a statement concerning Populations Served Competencies. Typically, a statement such as "Demonstrated ability to provide appropriate care based on the needs of a specific individual, including the patient's age." is sufficient. Select from the following patient age categories.

• Infant
• Child
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Geriatric

MEDICATION ACCESS AND STORAGE

LEVEL 1: Access Med Storage Areas for Cleaning

• Environmental Service Personnel
• Patient Support Assistants (PSAs)
• Material Services Personnel
• Nuclear Medicine Technologists

LEVEL 2: Access & Transport

• Drivers
• Hospital Assistants (depending on specific duties; ask HR if unsure)
• Volunteers
• Pharmacy Storekeepers

LEVEL 3: Access, Transport & Stocking

• Anesthesia Technicians
• Hospital Unit Service Coordinators
• Medical Assistants
• Radiology Technologists (all modalities, Ultrasound, Mammo, etc.)

About UCSF

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world's leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

Pride Values

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence - also known as our PRIDE values.

In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity - both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available here.

Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California 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, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Salary Information

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.

Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 1 year of working hands on in a healthcare environment.
• Ability to work effectively within a team.
• Ability to satisfactorily perform job duties as defined in the job description.
• Willingness to be taught/learn new skills.
• Ability to understand and communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to perform basic arithmetic computations (addition and subtraction).
• Ability to organize and effectively set priorities.
• Knowledge of medical terminology appropriate to the responsibilities of the job is preferred.
• Ability to carry out duties of first responder in emergency situations.
• Successful completion of Medical Center Patient Care Assistant training.
• Basic computer skills.
• This position requires flexibility to orient and work at all UCSF Medical Center locations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATION

• Certified Nursing Assistance Certification