Patient Care Tech - ICU Med Surg Unit

MedStar Health; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 28,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

MedStar Health in Washington, DC is seeking a patient care assistant to support the nursing and medical staff under supervision. You will help with ADLs, assist with specimens, EKGs, IVs, and documentation, and contribute to a safe, respectful patient environment.

Frontline duties include vital signs, I&O, rounds, and assisting with transports and discharge activities. Strong communication, basic math, and computer skills are valued, with CNA or EMT training required.

Qualifications

• Basic math knowledge.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic computer skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Contributes to department goals while adhering to quality and safety standards.
• Assists patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) and personal hygiene.
• Collects specimens (e.g. blood, urine, stool); performs venipuncture/phlebotomy; obtains EKGs; applies electrodes and initiates physiologic monitoring equipment; and inserts intravenous (IV) catheters.
• Assists in measuring and documenting patient intake and output; records vital signs, height/weight, pulse oximetry and basic tests in the health record.
• Maintains patient comfort, privacy, dignity, and safety; supports observation duties and assists with examinations and procedures.
• Rounds on assigned patients; reports changes to the RN; ensures handoffs; may assist in CPR when indicated.
• Participates in patient/family teaching and responds to questions with professionalism.
• Maintains cleanliness and safety of patient rooms; assists with environmental services as needed.
• Transports/discharges patients and escorts to appointments; handles errands as required.
• Receives and stocks equipment and supplies; participates in team meetings and quality/service improvement activities.

Skills

Basic math

Verbal and written communication

Basic computer skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program

EMT/Paramedic program

Nursing Student RN program or graduate (LPN/RN)

Job description

About the Job

Functions as a member of the patient-centered care team to provide direct patient care activities under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or medical staff/providers. Assists nursing and medical staff with procedures and/or tests and patients with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Performs specific care activities such as specimen collection phlebotomy intravenous (IV) catheter insertion electrocardiography (EKG) and documentation in the health record. Incumbents in this position may perform all or a combination of the duties described depending upon the assigned work area and the specific needs of the patients and the department.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and objectives and adheres to department policies procedures quality and safety standards and SPIRIT Values. Complies with governmental regulations and accreditation standards.
• Assists patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) and personal hygiene including bathing mouth care dressing skin care positioning feeding ambulation toileting and range of motion activities. Assists with patient mobilization and rehabilitation use of crutches and walkers and transfer/transport of patients in wheelchairs and stretchers.
• Collects specimens (e.g. blood urine stool); performs venipuncture/phlebotomy; obtains EKGs; applies electrodes and initiates physiologic monitoring equipment; and inserts intravenous (IV) catheters changes of IV sites and dressings and routine inspection of IV sites.
• Assists in the measurement and documentation of patient's intake and output (I&O). Accurately takes and records patient's vital signs height and weight pulse oximetry point of care and waived testing (i.e. finger sticks for glucose monitoring/Accucheck urine dipstick hemoccult) and other pertinent data or information in the patient's health record.
• Performs routine sterile non-sterile (e.g. application of thermal soaks) and other treatments/activities identified by unit/hospital policy inclusive of but not limited to: Foley Catheter insertion removal and care; suctioning; simple dressing changes and wound care; turning and positioning; postmortem care and transportation of body to the morgue; maintenance of drainage tubes with/without pump or suction; set-up and care of oxygen equipment; shave preps; and assistance in the application maintenance and removal of traction casts splints slings TED and SCD supports and other immobilization equipment
• Maintains the comfort privacy and confidentiality and dignity of each patient in the delivery of services. Performs patient observation duty including 1:1 observation and application of restraints. Prepares patients to be seen by providers. Assists providers and registered nurses in patient examinations and procedures.
• Rounds on all assigned patients based on established standards (e.g. purposeful hourly rounding). Reports actual and potential problems concerning patients/families including changes in the patient's condition to the registered nurse and other care team members as necessary. Ensures complete hand off to oncoming shift and obtains full hand off from outgoing shift. Initiates and assists in CPR when indicated.
• Participates in patient/family teaching as directed and responds to questions from patients families and visitors in a prompt courteous and respectful manner referring them to appropriate personnel if necessary.
• Maintains the cleanliness and safety of patient rooms/environment by distributing and changing linen/towels removing used meal trays checking bed siderails and safety restraints etc. Assists with environmental services support such as linen management trash removal and cleaning patient rooms as needed.
• Transports and/or escorts patients during discharges transfers and/or medical appointments. Completes errands such as delivering specimens to the laboratory equipment and supplies etc. as required.
• Receives and stocks equipment and supplies and maintains orderly supply and utility rooms.
• Attends staff meetings ongoing educational offerings and participate in multidisciplinary quality and service improvement teams.

Minimal Qualifications

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required or
• Completion of a Certified Nursing Assistant program an experienced MWHC nursing assistant or the equivalent required or
• Completion of a national Registered Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic program/course with at least six months or more experience as an EMT CCT or EMTP required or
• Nursing Student (RN Program) with completion of at least one year of clinical rotation or a graduate of an approved nursing program (LPN or RN)

Experience

• Prior work experience not required but completion of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic (EMT/EMTP) or Critical Care Technician (CCT) or Student Nurse required

Licenses and Certifications

• CNA - Certified Nursing Assistant in the District of Columbia or relevant jurisdiction required or
• Any licensure as indicated by above qualifications required
• CPR - Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (includes BLS and NRP) for healthcare providers from either the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross within 90 Days required
• Additional unit/specialty certifications may vary by department or business unit.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Basic math knowledge
• Verbal and written communication skills
• Basic computer skills preferred.

This position has a hiring range of

USD $20.52 - USD $30.88 /Hr.